Hyperkalemia Center - Chesterfield, MOChesterfield 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 Chesterfield * Chesterfield Medical  St Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute  Edwin J Cunningham MD  Thomas F Hastings MD  Stuart M Orgel MD  Allergy & Asthma Care  Crestview Medical Associates  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Internal Medicine of St Luke's LLC  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Internal Medicine of St Luke's LLC  Internal Medicine of St Luke's LLC  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Jeffrey R. Zohner, M.D.  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  InternaCare LLC  Douglas R Berson MD  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Drs Kumar Mera & Boesch  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  John A Davidson MD  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Drs Genova, Ghazal-Albar & Bollis  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Ron Javdan MD  Conway Internists  InternaCare LLC  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Conway Internists  Drs Kumar Mera & Boesch  James F. Loomis, Jr., MD  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Drs Kumar Mera & Boesch  Salma Mustafa MD  Diagnostic Internists Inc  Mary K O'Dowd MD  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Diagnostic Internists Inc  Clayton Internal Medicine  Habbouba Salibi MD  Schmid Adult Health & Wellness Inc  Stephen Schuman MD  Arnold Tepper MD  InternaCare LLC  Arnold S Tepper MD  Arnold S Tepper MD  Robert C Uchiyama MD  County Internal Medicine LLC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Steven F Willey MD  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Health & Wellness Center LLC  Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Abraham Barake MD  St Lukes Hospital Urgent Care Ctr  Florissant Oaks Internal Medicine  Florissant Oaks Internal Medicine  Florissant Oaks Internal Medicine  Florissant Oaks Internal Medicine  Mercy Medical Group  Health First Physician Services  Mercy Medical Group  Mercy Medical Group  Mercy Medical Group  Mercy Medical Group  Barnes West Medical Consultants  Washington University Division of Cardiology  Washington University Endocrinology  Midwest Internists  Barnes West Medical Consultants  Barnes West Medical Consultants  Associated Specialists in Medicine  Barnes West Medical Consultants  St Charles County Internal Medicine  Associated Specialists in Medicine  Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital Radiology  Rosemary L Cannistraro MD  Creve Coeur Primary Care  Mercy Health Research Ryan Headache Center  Creve Coeur Primary Care  Missouri Endocrine & Diabetes  Practice Management Affiliates  Des Peres Internal Medicine  Des Peres Internal Medicine  Des Peres Internal Medicine  Sanjay Patwardhan MD PC dba Premier Hospitalists  Des Peres Internal Medicine  Des Peres Internal Medicine  Sanjay Patwardhan MD PC dba Premier Hospitalists  Sanjay Patwardhan MD PC dba Premier Hospitalists  Sanjay Patwardhan MD PC dba Premier Hospitalists Chesterfield, MissouriUpcoming 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 Chesterfield
Nearby Chesterfield Hospitals *St John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital St Luke's Hospital Dubuis Hospital of St Louis St Luke's Urgent Care Center on Clarkson Road Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital St John's Mercy Medical Center Missouri Baptist Medical Center Center Pointe Hospital St Luke's Urgent Care Center in St Charles Des Peres Hospital Shriners Hospital for Children Ranken Jordan Pediatric Rehabilitation SSM DePaul Health Center SSM St Joseph Health Center Barnes-Jewish St Peter's Hospital St John's Urgent Care Center Saint Peters SSM St Clare Health Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center in Fenton St John's Mercy Urgent Care Center Progress West HealthCare Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center at WingHaven Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital SSM Rehab SSM St Mary's Health Center Kindred Hospital St Anthony's St Anthony's Medical Center Forest Park Community Hospital Select Specialty Hospital St Louis Northwest HealthCare Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center Barnes-Jewish Hospital North Campus Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus Kindred Hospital St Louis SSM St Joseph Hospital West St Louis Children's Hospital The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis Saint Louis University Hospital SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center St Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks St Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division St Alexius Hospital Broadway Campus Christian Hospital NE SSM St Joseph Health Center Wentzville Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital Gateway Regional Medical Center Touchette Regional Hospital St John's Mercy Hospital St Clare's Hospital St Anthony's Health Center Alton Memorial Hospital Memorial Hospital Belleville Jefferson Regional Medical Center Lincoln County Medical Center St Elizabeth's Hospital Belleville Anderson Hospital Jersey Community 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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