Hyperkalemia Center - Annandale, VAAnnandale 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 Annandale * Ngoc-Ha Nguyen MD  Tony Hsiao MD  Quan Q Nguyen MD  Roya Sedghi MD  Heeshin Kim MD  Virginia Cardiovascular  Northern VA Primary Care Associates  Northern VA Primary Care Associates  Evergreen First Health Immediate Care Clinic  Steven Perez MD  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Loehmann's Walk In Clinic  Loehmann's Walk In Clinic  Arshad P Cheema MD  Quang T Tran MD  Eyad Abu-Hamda MD  Kanchan Anand MD  Zhengyi Cheng MD  Dominion Urgent Care  Kumaresan Sankaran MD  Internal Medicine Associates of Northern Virginia  Internal Medicine Associates of Northern Virginia  Internal Medicine Associates of Northern Virginia  Internal Medicine Associates of Northern Virginia  Pedro Villanueva MD  Internal Medicine Associates of Northern Virginia  General Internal Medicine Group  Dev R Chhabra MD  NovaMed Associates  General Internal Medicine Group  General Internal Medicine Group  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  General Internal Medicine Group  Gil Kim MD  NovaMed Associates  Alexandria Health Care Ctr  General Internal Medicine Group  NovaMed Associates  MSG of NOVA  MSG of NOVA  Lisa Harper MD  MSG of NOVA  MSG of NOVA  The Cardiovascular Group PC  Fecanin & Gavora MDs  Fecanin & Gavora MDs  Prosperity Primary Medicine  Femme Care  Femme Care  David B McDonald MD  Mukund M Morjaria MD  Antonio R Rivera MD  Farook A Shaikh MD  James Sipes MD  Northern Virginia Cardiology Associates  Cam-Tu T Thai MD  Tin Thu MD  Sang Tran MD  Tran Medical Care Service  Lan & Richard Tu MDs  Femme Care  Pan American Internal Medicine  Pio F Poblete MD  Alexandria Infectious Diseases  Kaiser Permanente Falls Church Medical Center  Edna Baldo MD  Kaiser Permanente  Kaiser Permanente  Gil M Ruiz MD  Park Avenue Medical Group  Kaiser Permanente Springfield Medical Center  Bailey's Health Center  TriCare Medical Group PC  Edward F Barbano MD  Leslie Brandwin MD  Falls Church Medical Center  Leslie Brandwin MD  Leslie Brandwin MD  Mahadevappa K Hunasikatti MD FCCP  Emigdio Lopez MD  Phu Pham MD  Leslie Brandwin MD  Falls Church Medical Center  Internal Medicine Center of Virginia  Falls Church Medical Center  Falls Church Medical Center  Julio A Dejo MD  Seven Corners Medical Center  Seven Corners Medical Center  Ali A Al-Attar MD  Kingstowne Family Practice  Springfield Medical Clinic  Internal Medicine Physicians of Alexandria Annandale, VirginiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 Annandale
Nearby Annandale Hospitals *Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Dominion Hospital Inova Alexandria Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Georgetown University Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital The George Washington University Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Psychiatric Institute of Washington Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Howard University Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington Children's National Medical Center National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington Hospital Center Washington DC VA Medical Center Reston Hospital Center National Institutes of Health Fort Washington Hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center Providence Hospital Suburban Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center Potomac Hospital United Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital Holy Cross Hospital Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince William Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Southern Maryland Hospital Center Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Doctors Community Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Montgomery General Hospital Civista Medical Center Laurel Regional Hospital Graydon Manor Behavioral Health North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Howard County General Hospital Fauquier Hospital 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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