Hyperkalemia Center - College Station, TXCollege Station 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 College Station * Scott & White at College Station  Dave & Dave MDs  St Joseph's Pediatrics Clinic  Samuel J Barina MD  David P Buras MD  Brazos Valley Endocrinology  Mark J Florian MD  Thomas A Ginn MD  Julie W Lim MD  Linda S Price MD  Stephen S Tseng MD  Philip R Alexander MD  Philip R Alexander MD  Aiyanadar Shanmugan MD  Navasota Medical Center  Navasota Medical Center  Navasota Medical Center  St Joseph Hearne Family Medicine Clinic  St Joseph Hearne Family Medicine Clinic  Brenham Clinic  Brenham Clinic  Dao V Doan MD  Suresh Babu MD  Lakewood Family Practice  Don R Bosse MD  Mark D Le MD  Hunaid Dollar MD  Sam Houston Family Clinic  Turtle Creek Medical  Turtle Creek Medical  John S Hines MD  Huntsville Pediatric & Adult Medicine  Huntsville Pediatric & Adult Medicine  Plus Care Medical Clinic  Plus Care Medical Clinic  Balakrishna Mangapuram MD  June Chieh Chang MD  Sealy Urgent Care  Northwest Houston Heart Center  Family Diagnostic Clinic  Imran Nathani MD  Arif Ali MD  Balbir Chahal MD PA  Michael A DiTeresa MD  David T Le MD & Mark D Le MD  Cardiovascular Institute  Vanitha Reddy MD  Tomball Regional Internal Medicine Associate  Amy D Ciborowski MD  M Atif Rahi MD  Tomball Regional Internal Medicine Associate  Tomball Regional Internal Medicine Associate  Fehmida Vejlani MD  Cardio Vascular Clinic of Texas  Arvind M Pai MD  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Village Medical Center  North Houston Nephrology & Diagnostic Associates P  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Leticia Garcia-Delpino MD  Holmes Internal Medicine  Holmes Internal Medicine  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Southeast Texas Center for Wound Care  Linh T Dang MD PA  Primary Care Specialists  John A Startz MD  Christopher Wong MD  Northwest Diagnostic Clinic  Northwest Diagnostic Clinic  Northwest Diagnostic Clinic  Four Oaks Medical Clinic  Rajendra Pandya MD  Carlos E Araujo-Preza MD  Ike Eni MD PA  Michael Y Chang DO PA  Dr Rajnikant Kushwaha MD  Kelsey-Seybold Clinic The Woodlands  Kelsey-Seybold Clinic The Woodlands  Michael Y Chang DO PA  Woodlands Internists PA  Woodlands Internists PA  Woodlands Family Practice  The Sadler Clinic  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Nirmal Bual MD  Dorothy Cohen-Serna MD PA  Physicians Group of The Woodlands  Cypress Cardiology PA  Dorothy Cohen-Serna MD PA  Houston Center for Infectious Diseases PA  Mayer & Taylor MDs  Physicians Group of The Woodlands  Thomas M Sloan MD  Mayer & Taylor MDs  Greater Houston Digestive Disease Consultant  Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Specialists College Station, TexasUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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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 College Station
Nearby College Station Hospitals *The Physicians Centre Hospital St Joseph Regional Health Center College Station Medical Center Grimes St Joseph Health Center Burleson St Joseph Health Center Trinity Medical Center Brenham Madison St Joseph Health Center 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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