Hyperkalemia Center - Bakersfield, CABakersfield 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 Bakersfield * Centennial Medical Group  Centennial Medical Group  Florencio E Pangilinan Jr. MD  Kevork A Bouldoukian MD  Hector M DeJesus MD  Ned Devasia MD  Emanuel V Dozier MD  Aileen Matuk MD  Gursharan S Saini MD FCCP  Ambika Softa MD  Ambika Softa MD  Cheng-Tsung Yeh MD  Neloufa Merrill MD  Robert A Catania MD  Byron S K Mui MD FACP  The Heart Center  Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine Dept Premiere Hospitalists  Comprehensive Care Clinic  Cardiovasular Consultants  Highgrove Medical Center  Highgrove Medical Center  Highgrove Medical Center  Advanced Kidney Medical Group  Highgrove Medical Center  Kern Faculty Medical Group  Nancy M McNamara MD  Nadim W Sarkies MD  VA Clinic  VA Clinic  VA Clinic  San Joaquin Valley Pulmonary Medical Group  Fakhruddin Hasta MD  San Joaquin Valley Pulmonary Medical Group  San Joaquin Valley Pulmonary Medical Group  San Joaquin Valley Pulmonary Medical Group  San Joaquin Valley Pulmonary Medical Group  Esmail Nadjmabadi MD  Arete Healthcare  Bakersfield Medical Center  Stockdale Medical  Valdez & Remmes MDs  David C Dougherty MD  Jacquelyn Kotarac MD  Anil Mehta MD  Edward L Nichols MD  Howard H Nizar MD  Kern Integrity Medical Group  Kenneth K C Hsu MD  Bakersfield Family Medical Center  Bakersfield Family Medical Center  Bakersfield Family Medical Center  Bakersfield Family Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Bakersfield  Bakersfield Family Medical Center  Bakersfield Family Medical Center  East Bakersfield Community Health Center  East Bakersfield Community Health Center  Umesh N Patel MD  Central Cardiology Medical Clinic  Central Cardiology Medical Clinic  Central Cardiology Medical Clinic  Denis E Maddox MD  Central Cardiology Medical Clinic  Central Cardiology Medical Clinic  Preferred Family Care Physicians  Sam N Ratnayake MD FACP  Kern Faculty Medical Group  Kern Faculty Medical Group  Kern Faculty Medical Group  Kern Faculty Medical Group  St Therese Medical Group  Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center  Valley Medical Group  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Manick Bhardwaj MD  Kaiser Permanente Bakersfield  Kaiser Permanente Bakersfield  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  William F Baker MD  Sarupinder S Bhangoo MD  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Mohawk Medical Group  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Kaiser Permanente Stockdale & Bakers Rds  Strategos Medical Group  Strategos Medical Group  William F Baker MD  CSUB Student Health Services  Nandakumar Ravi MD  Mesa West Medical Group  Pankaj Shukla MD  Lamont Community Health Center  Jae J Kim MD  Ricardo Bernadino MD  Manabir Singh MD  Yong Hwang MD Bakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield is a city at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California, United States. It is located roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, 110 mi (180 km) to the north and south respectively.
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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 Bakersfield
Nearby Bakersfield Hospitals *Mercy Hospital San Joaquin Community Hospital Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Bakerfield Memorial Hospital Bakersfield Heart Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Bakersfield Rehabilitation Hospital Kern Medical Center Good Samaritan Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital Psychiatric Division Mercy Southwest Hospital Delano Regional Medical Center Tehachapi Valley 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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