What is the blood test for magnesium levels called?

A blood test is the most common way to find out your magnesium level. You may hear the term “total serum magnesium test.”

What does a magnesium blood test check for?

A magnesium test is used to measure the level of magnesium in the blood (or sometimes urine). Abnormal levels of magnesium are most frequently seen in conditions or diseases that cause impaired or excessive excretion of magnesium by the kidneys or that cause impaired absorption in the intestines.

What blood tests detect magnesium deficiency?

If your doctor suspects that your magnesium level is too low or too high, they may order a serum magnesium test. This test involves a basic blood draw. Your doctor will collect some of your blood into a vial or tube and send it to a lab for testing.

What happens if magnesium is high?

Particularly high levels of magnesium in the blood can lead to heart problems, difficulty breathing, and shock. In severe cases, it can result in coma.

What blocks magnesium absorption?

Increased luminal phosphate or fat may precipitate magnesium and decrease its absorption. In the gut, calcium and magnesium intakes influence each other’s absorption; a high calcium intake may decrease magnesium absorption, and a low magnesium intake may increase calcium absorption.

What diseases are caused by lack of magnesium?

Magnesium deficiency can cause a wide variety of features including hypocalcaemia, hypokalaemia and cardiac and neurological manifestations. Chronic low magnesium state has been associated with a number of chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and osteoporosis.

Can a blood test detect magnesium levels?

A magnesium blood test is used to check to see if you have too little or too much magnesium in the blood. Having too little magnesium, known as hypomagnesemia or magnesium deficiency, is more common than having too much magnesium, which is known as hypermagnesemia.

How do you treat high magnesium levels?

Treatment of Hypermagnesemia People with severe hypermagnesemia are given calcium gluconate by vein (intravenously). Diuretics (particularly if given intravenously) can be given to increase the kidneys’ excretion of magnesium.

Who should not take magnesium?

People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider. Overdose. Signs of a magnesium overdose can include nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. At very high doses, magnesium can be fatal.

What are the signs of lack of magnesium?

A: One of the first signs of magnesium deficiency is often fatigue. You may notice muscle spasms, weakness or stiffness as well. Loss of appetite and nausea are other common symptoms in the early stages. However, you may not notice any symptoms at all in the beginning.

What kind of blood test to check for magnesium?

The magnesium blood test is performed along with calcium, phosphorus, potassium and parathyroid hormone test. A person with low levels of magnesium may also have calcium and potassium deficiency.

What are the risks of a serum magnesium test?

You may get a bruise at the needle insertion site. Serious risks are rare and include fainting, infection, and inflammation. What do the results mean? The normal range for serum magnesium is 1.7 to 2.3 milligrams per deciliter for people 17 years old and up, according to Mayo Medical Laboratories.

Do you need to stop taking magnesium before a blood test?

Certain medicines can affect magnesium levels. Tell your health care provider about any prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking. Your provider will let you know if you need to stop taking them for a few days before your test. You’ll also need to stop taking magnesium supplements before your test.

Why do I have more magnesium in my blood than normal?

That’s because much of the magnesium in your body is stored in your bones and other places, not in the blood. Stress can send magnesium out of your cells and into your blood. This can make it seem like you have more magnesium in your body than you really have if you simply have a blood test. There are other tests.