Definition. CO2 is carbon dioxide. This article discusses the laboratory test to measures the amount of carbon dioxide in the liquid part of your blood, called the serum. In the body, most of the CO2 is in the form of a substance called bicarbonate (HCO3-). Therefore, the CO2 blood test is really a measure of your blood bicarbonate level.
Potassium can cause stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal gas, and other side effects. Too much potassium is UNSAFE and can cause feelings of burning or tingling, generalized weakness, paralysis, listlessness, dizziness, mental confusion, low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm, and death.
Certain kinds of trauma can raise your potassium levels as well. In such cases, extra potassium is leaked from your body cells into the bloodstream. Burns, injuries, heart attack, and even drug overdoses can cause these effects.nother possible cause of high potassium is heavy alcohol or drug use, which can cause your muscles to break down. This breakdown can release a high amount of potassium into your blood from your muscle cells.