Hyperkalemia Center - Alpharetta, GAAlpharetta Internist Doctors for HyperkalemiaType of Physician: Internist What is a Internist? A certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners provide long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common illnesses and complex problems for adolescents, adults, and the elderly. General internists are trained in primary care internal medicine, which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and treatment of problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs. All internists are trained in the subspecialty areas of internal medicine including emergency internal medicine and critical care. Internists consult with surgeons when surgical management is indicated, and often act as consultants to other specialists. Specialty: Internal Medicine Common Name: Internist Doctors in Alpharetta * DeKalb Medical Emergency Associates  Alpharetta Integrated Medicine  Main St. Internal Medicine and Pediatrics PC  Roswell Internal Medicine Specialists PC  24 ON Physicians  Kaiser Permanente Alpharetta Internal Medicine  Alpharetta Internal Medicine  Infectious Disease Services of Georgia PC  Kaiser Permanente Alpharetta Internal Medicine  North Fulton Internal Medicine  Alpharetta Internal Medicine  North Fulton Internal Medicine  Long H Le MD PC  Alpharetta Internal Medicine  Renaissance Medical Center  Alpharetta Internal Medicine  North Fulton Family Medicine PC  Mitchell W Hecht MD  Internal Medicine At Preston Ridge  Perimeter North Internal Medicine PC  North Fulton Family Medicine PC  Vainer & Vainer Nephrology  North Point Internal Medicine PC  Vainer & Vainer Nephrology  Vainer & Vainer Nephrology  Perimeter North Internal Medicine PC  Tim B Cummings MD  Welcome Medical Center  Carolyn H Sigman MD  Carolyn H Sigman MD  James L Stewart MD  Dharmaraj H Patil MD  Dharmaraj H Patil MD  James L Bean MD  Roswell West Medical Center  Georgia Clinic  Atlanta Health & Medical Center  Goga Vukotic MD  Goga Vukotic MD  Crabapple Internal Medicine PC  Alpharetta Cardiology LLC  Laureate Medical Group-Midtown  Laureate Medical Group Northside  Emory Johns Creek Hospitalists  Dianne Bennett-Johnson MD  George L Aubley MD PC  Diabetes & Hypertension Center  Albert F Johary MD  Apollo Medical Care PC  Georgia Clinic At Peachtree Corners  Georgia Clinic At Peachtree Corners  Georgia Clinic At Peachtree Corners  Gwinnett Clinic  Gwinnett Clinic  Alpharetta Medical Associates  Dunwoody Village Clinic PC  River Park Internal Medicine  Renata H Batko MD  Robert D Clayton MD  North Atlanta Family Practice  Leslie Norman MD  Shallowford Medical Center  Shallowford Medical Center  M Nevin Nadimi MD  Daniel S Goodman MD PC  Gwinnett Pulmonary Group  Gwinnett Pulmonary Group  Alan B Miller MD  Gwinnett Pulmonary Group  Gwinnett Pulmonary Group  Maxa Internal Medicine Associates PC  Maxa Internal Medicine Associates PC  Mason Primary Care  Met Test LLC  Hansen Chang MD LLC  Glenlake Internal Medicine Health Care Team A  Glenlake Medical Center Kaiser Southeast  Tuan M Nguyen MD  Caroline M Abruzese MD  Rika Medical Center PC  Gwinnett Clinic  Sandy Springs Internal Medicine  Sandy Springs Internal Medicine  Mount Vernon Internal Medicine  Mount Vernon Internal Medicine  Sandy Springs Internal Medicine  Sandy Springs Internal Medicine  Joseph L Micca MD  Mount Vernon Internal Medicine  Sandy Springs Internal Medicine  Sandy Springs Internal Medicine  Mount Vernon Internal Medicine  Mount Vernon Internal Medicine  Mount Vernon Internal Medicine  Sandy Springs Internal Medicine  Perimeter Clinic  The Medical Group of St Joseph's  Center for Medicine Endocrinology & Diabetes LLC  The Medical Group of St Joseph's  Sanus Medical Alpharetta, GeorgiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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Hyperkalemia (High Blood Potassium)Read the Hyperkalemia (High Blood Potassium) article » What is hyperkalemia?Hyperkalemia is common; it is diagnosed in up to 8% of hospitalized patients in the U.S. Fortunately, most patients have mild hyperkalemia (which is usually well tolerated). However, any condition causing even mild hyperkalemia should be treated to prevent progression into more severe hyperkalemia. Extremely high levels of potassium in the blood (severe hyperkalemia) can lead to cardiac arrest and death. When not recognized and treated properly, severe hyperkalemia results in a mortality rate of about 67%. Technically, hyperkalemia means an abnormally elevated level of potassium in the blood. The normal potassium level in the blood is 3.5-5.0 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Potassium levels between 5.1 mEq/L to 6.0 mEq/L reflect mild hyperkalemia. Potassium levels of 6.1 mEq/L to 7.0 mEq/L are moderate hyperkalemia, and levels above 7 mEq/L are severe hyperkalemia.
How does hyperkalemia affect the body?Potassium is critical for the normal functioning of the muscles, heart, and nerves. It plays an important role in controlling activity of smooth muscle (such as the muscle found in the digestive tract) and skeletal muscle (muscles of the extremities and torso), as well as the muscles of the heart. It is also important for normal transmission of electrical signals throughout the nervous system within the body. Normal blood levels of potassium are critical for maintaining normal heart electrical rhythm. Both low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) and high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia) can lead to abnormal heart rhythms. The most important clinical effect of hyperkalemia is related to electrical rhythm of the heart. While mild hyperkalemia probably has a limited effect on the heart, moderate hyperkalemia can produce EKG changes (EKG is an electrical reading of the heart muscles), and severe hyperkalemia can caus... Recommended Reading Related to Hyperkalemia (High Blood Potassium)What are electrolytes?Chemically, electrolytes are substances that become ions in solution and acquire the capacity to conduct electricity. Electrolytes are present in the human body, and the balance of the electrolytes in our bodies is essential for normal function of our cells and our organs. Common electrolytes that are measured by doctors with blood testing include sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. The functions and normal range values for these electrolytes are described below.
SodiumSodium is the major positive ion (cation) in fluid outside of cells. The chemical notation for sodium is Na+. When combined with chloride, the resulting substance is table salt. Excess sodium (such as that obtained from dietary sources) is excreted in the urine. Sodium regulates the total amount of water in the body and the transmission of sodium into and out of individual cells also plays a role in critical body funct... Other Related Hyperkalemia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Alpharetta
Nearby Alpharetta Hospitals *North Fulton Regional Hospital Emory Johns Creek Hospital Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth Glancy Rehabilitation Center Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta Northside Hospital Forsyth Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite Northside Hospital Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Northside Hospital Cherokee Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Gwinnett Medical Center Atlanta VA Medical Center Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital Devereux Georgia Treatment Network Children's Healthcare at Egleston DeKalb Medical Center Emory University Hospital Emory Adventist Hospital Ridgeview Institute SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine Piedmont Hospital Shepherd Center Hillside Hospital DeKalb Medical Laurel Heights Hospital Emory Eastside Medical Center Kindred Hospital Atlanta Emory University Hospital Midtown Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta Atlanta Medical Center Grady Health System Wellstar Cobb Hospital Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Regency Hospital of South Atlanta South Fulton Medical Center Cartersville Medical Center Northeast Georgia Medical Center Rockdale Medical Center Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lanier Park Campus Anchor Hospital Wellstar Paulding Hospital Barrow Regional Medical Center Wellstar Douglas Hospital Southern Regional Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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