Lab Tests

Diagnostic tests your doctor may order at your first visit:

• Complete blood count.
• Blood chemistries (to check for levels of creatinine, potassium, sodium, glucose and uric acid).
• Lipid profile (for cholesterol, triglyceride, high and low density lipoprotein).
• EKG (electrocardiogram).
• Urine test (dip test).

If all are normal, they may:

• Be repeated as suggested by your doctor.

Special circumstances:

• If you are on a water pill (diuretic):

  Your potassium level may be checked periodically.

• If your diuretic dose was increased recently:

  Your potassium level may be checked periodically.

• If you are on an ACE Inhibitor or Angiotension Receptor Blocker (ARB):

  Your potassium level and creatinine level may be checked periodically.

• If the potassium level is low and you are taking diuretics, your doctor may:

  Give you potassium supplements or change your diuretic dose or type.

  If the potassium level does not return to normal, your doctor may do further testing.

More on Hypertension

In the Encyclopedia:

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.