Hyperkalemia Center - Belleville, ILBelleville 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 Belleville * Robert D Fricke MD  Stuart W Mauch Jr. MD  St Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department  St Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department  Duk C Kim MD Ltd  Thomas Tse MD  Drs McDermott & Ringhofer  Drs McDermott & Ringhofer  Matthew D Hageman MD  Midwest Nephrology & Hypertension Associates  Pulmonary Physicians of Southern Illinois  Midwest Nephrology & Hypertension Associates  Southern Illinois Internal Medicine  Internal Medicine Specialist of Southern Ill  Internal Medicine Specialist of Southern Ill  Medical Surgical Clinic  Nidal Shawahin MD  Medical Surgical Clinic  ESSE Health  ESSE Health  ESSE Health  Advanced Cardiology  Fairview Heights Medical Group LLC  Fairview Heights Medical Group LLC  Fairview Heights Medical Group LLC  Muhiyuddin Khalid MD  Southern Illinois Healthcare  Southern Illinois Healthcare  Metro Cardiovascular Inc  William G Bonzelet MD SC  Richard C Chen MD  Alan Hagen MD  Southern Illinois Regional Wellness Ctr  Rene St Leger MD  Windsor Health Center  Southern IL Regional Wellness Center  Urgicare Center  Mallavarap Rao MD  Tibor C Kopjas MD  Southwestern Illinois Internal Medicine  Southwestern Illinois Internal Medicine  Robert Santaella MD  James Simmering MD  Mark S Fedder MD  Kevin B Garner MD  Michael E Mandis MD LLC  Nephrology Associates of St. Louis  First Care  Heartland Healthcare  Heartland Healthcare  Koch Health Center  Heartland Healthcare  Amar Medical Associates PC  Heartland Healthcare  Drs Nyazee & Hakim LLC  Amar Medical Associates PC  Metro Hypertension & Kidney Center  Metro Hypertension & Kidney Center  Nancy P Birner MD  Pichet & Meechai MDs  Pichet & Meechai MDs  Highland Physicians Ltd  South Illinois Healthcare Foundation  South Illinois Healthcare Foundation  South Illinois Healthcare Foundation  Adult Medicine of Highland  Adult Medicine of Highland  OSBEC Medical of Southern Illinois  Rajnikant K Patel MD  Scott A Halvorson MD  Guy W Aton & David R Riedel MDs  Alton MultiSpecialists  Alton MultiSpecialists  Alton MultiSpecialists  Guy W Aton & David R Riedel MDs  Alton MultiSpecialists  Alton Multispecialist  Viwathna Bhutaimethee MD  Compass Physicians  Compass Physicians  Compass Physicians  Compass Physicians  David Neighbors MD  James Wells DO  Sadig Mohyuddin MD  Stanton Clinic  Stanton Clinic  Chester Mental Health Center  Christopher J Rivera MD  Srirama S Kurella MD  Medical Associates of Jerseyville  Pinckneyville Hosp Family Medical Center  Springfield Clinic Acorn Medical Associates  Illini Medical Associates  Illini Medical Associates  Gregg L Laws MD  Carlinville Medical Clinic  Springfield Clinic Hillsboro Medical Center  Naeem A Khan MD  Suresh Krishnamoorthy MD Belleville, IllinoisUpcoming 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 Belleville
Nearby Belleville Hospitals *St Elizabeth's Hospital Belleville Memorial Hospital Belleville Touchette Regional Hospital Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital St Alexius Hospital Broadway Campus Gateway Regional Medical Center SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center Anderson Hospital Saint Louis University Hospital St Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division St Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis St Louis Children's Hospital Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus Barnes-Jewish Hospital North Campus Kindred Hospital St Louis Forest Park Community Hospital Select Specialty Hospital St Louis Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center SSM Rehab SSM St Mary's Health Center Red Bud Regional Hospital Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital St Anthony's Medical Center Kindred Hospital St Anthony's Christian Hospital NE St Joseph's Hospital of Highland Shriners Hospital for Children St Luke's Urgent Care Center in Fenton Des Peres Hospital Missouri Baptist Medical Center St Joseph's Hospital Breese Northwest HealthCare SSM St Clare Health Center St John's Mercy Medical Center Ranken Jordan Pediatric Rehabilitation St Clare's Hospital Alton Memorial Hospital Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital Dubuis Hospital of St Louis Jefferson Regional Medical Center St Anthony's Health Center SSM DePaul Health Center St Luke's Hospital St John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Sparta Community Hospital SSM St Joseph Health Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center on Clarkson Road Washington County 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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