Hyperkalemia Center - Charleston, WVCharleston 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 Charleston * Maria Navarro MD  Ahmed Sakkal MD  Samar R Sankari MD  Jashvantlal Thakkar MD  Health Scope  Philip M Rubin MD  Melvin T Vidal MD  Jack Kinder MD  Jack Kinder MD  Living Well Medical Center  Nicholas Cassis Jr. MD  Associated Cardiology of Charleston  Carolyn Sue Warren MD  Mountain State Medical Associates  Mountain State Medical Associates  Bone & Joint Surgeons  Ashton Medical Group  Farah H Garmany MD & Firooz Garmany MD  Robert F Linger Jr. MD  Kanawha Internal Medicine  Charleston Heart Specialists  Charleston Internal Medicine  Charleston Internal Medicine  Charleston Internal Medicine  West Virginia University Physicians  Amy Wirts MD  Renal Consultants  Renal Consultants  Drs Agrawal & Jagannath  Drs Agrawal & Jagannath  Prestige Primary Care Associates  South Charleston Cardiology  Kanawha Valley GI Associates  Mallinath Kayi MD  Kanawha Valley GI Associates  South Charleston Cardiology  Elizabeth L Brown & Crystal H Bastin MD  Thomas Memorial Hospital  Thomas Memorial Hospital  Thomas Memorial Hospital  Dunbar Medical Associates  Dunbar Medical Associates  Nilina Bhirud MD  Crosslanes Internal Medicine Group  Crosslanes Internal Medicine Group  Crosslanes Internal Medicine Group  Mark Douglas DO  Riverside Medical Group  Natural Path Health Center  Ajay T Patel MD  Gregory Mark Moreland MD  Cabin Creek Health Center and Pharmacy  Teays Internal Medicine  Family Care Health Center  Madison Medical  Clinton Sloan MD  Dunbar Medical Associates  Rick Houdersheldt DO  E Brad McCoy DO  Ravin H Bhirud MD  Wharton Medical Clinic  Milton Family Physicians Inc  Lincoln County Primary Care Center  William J Casto DO  Morad Hughes Health Center  James G Gaal DO  Irvin J Snyder MD  James E Stollings DO  New River Healthcare Whipple  Medical Surgical Group Inc  Medical Associates of Glen Daniel  Drs Harvey & Rushden  New River Family Health Center  Petersen Clinic  Prasada Rao Boppana MD  Narciso B Tuanquin MD  Ravenwood Family Medical Center  Logan Regional Medical Center Internal Medicine  Barboursville Internal Medicine & Pediatrics  Saxe Medical Services  Pleasant Valley Hospital  Pleasant Valley Hospital  Gastroenterology of Southern West Virginia  Stephan J Serfontein MD  Syed Siddiqi MD  Thair Barghouthi MD  Huntington Internal Medicine Group Primary Care Center  Huntington Internal Medicine Group Primary Care Center  Huntington Internal Medicine Group Endocrinology & ENT  Huntington Internal Medicine Group Primary Care Center  M C Shah MD  Huntington Internal Medicine Group Internal Medicine  Community Health Systems Rural Acres Clinic  Community Health Systems Rural Acres Clinic  Medical Surgical Group Inc  Stanaford Medical Clinic  Oscar F Munoz MD  Stanaford Medical Clinic  Harold Harvey MD  Surayia T Hasan MD Charleston, West 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 Charleston
Nearby Charleston Hospitals *Saint Francis Hospital Select Specialty Hospital CAMC Women & Children's Hospital Eye & Ear Clinic of Charleston CAMC General Hospital CAMC Memorial Hospital Highland Hospital Thomas Memorial Hospital CAMC Teays Valley Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Boone Memorial Hospital Jackson General 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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