Hyperkalemia Center - Burke, VABurke 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 Burke * Seddigheh A Feisee MD  Potomac Internal Medicine Associates  William A Wilson MD  Julio A Dejo MD  Edward F Barbano MD  Internal Medicine & Allergy Associates  Internal Medicine & Allergy Associates  Emigdio Lopez MD  Phu Pham MD  Springfield Medical Clinic  Burke Internal Medicine  Edna Baldo MD  Burke Internal Medicine  Randolph & McFarland Internal Medicine PC  Duc M Ngo MD  Randolph & McFarland Internal Medicine PC  Fairfax Internal Medicine PC  Esmail Rafi MD  Fairfax Physicians Weight Management  Surjit Singh MD General Medical Clinic Inc  Advanced Internal Medicine Inc  Advanced Internal Medicine Inc  Soo Woong Park MD  Advanced Internal Medicine Inc  Advanced Internal Medicine Inc  Ayad A Alsaadi, MD  Fair Oaks Internal Medicine  Fair Oaks Internal Medicine  Loehmann's Walk In Clinic  Virginia Cardiovascular  Northern VA Primary Care Associates  Northern VA Primary Care Associates  Benson W Yu MD  Virginia Nephrology Group  Virginia Nephrology Group  Anuradha N Ralapati MD  Leslie Brandwin MD  Leslie Brandwin MD  Leslie Brandwin MD  Leslie Brandwin MD  Tony Hsiao MD  Roya Sedghi MD  The Cardiovascular Group PC  Prosperity Primary Medicine  Femme Care  Femme Care  Northern Virginia Cardiology Associates  Femme Care  NovaMed Associates  Gil Kim MD  NovaMed Associates  NovaMed Associates  Fecanin & Gavora MDs  Fecanin & Gavora MDs  Lisa Harper MD  Rajeshwar Singh Kadian MD  David B McDonald MD  Bone Health Diagnostic  Eyad Abu-Hamda MD  Kanchan Anand MD  General Internal Medicine Group  Zhengyi Cheng MD  General Internal Medicine Group  General Internal Medicine Group  Gastroenterology Associates of N Virginia  General Internal Medicine Group  Dominion Urgent Care  Kumaresan Sankaran MD  General Internal Medicine Group  Mahadevappa K Hunasikatti MD FCCP  Ngoc-Ha Nguyen MD  Internal Medicine Center of Virginia  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  Virginia Medical Alliance  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  Evergreen First Health Immediate Care Clinic  Quan Q Nguyen MD  Kaiser Permanente  Kaiser Permanente  Heeshin Kim MD  Kaiser Permanente Springfield Medical Center  Dev R Chhabra MD  James Turner MD  Steven Perez MD  Khaldoon I Hilmi MD  Thomas C Mandes MD  Loehmann's Walk In Clinic  Tibor J Ham Jr. MD & Paul G Durr MD  Tibor J Ham Jr. MD & Paul G Durr MD Burke, 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 Burke
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