Hyperkalemia Center - Framingham, MAFramingham 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 Framingham * The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  Metrowest Internal Medicine  The Heart Center of MetroWest  Stephen A Hoffmann MD  Ralph A Sherman MD  The Heart Center of MetroWest  Metrowest Internal Medicine  The Heart Center of MetroWest  Framingham Union Hospital Pulmonology  MetroWest Medical Center Pulmonology  MetroWest Medical Center Emergency Medicine  Jerome Siegel MD  Thomas L Treadwell MD  Framingham Health Associates  Charles River Medical Associate  Shahnaz Montague MD  John E Hoye MD  Framingham Community Medicine  Framingham Community Medicine  Charles River Medical Associates  Pat Chira MD  Pat Chira MD  Charles River Medical Assoc  Charles River Medical Assoc  Charles River Medical Assoc  Charles River Medical Assoc  Charles River Medical Assoc  Medical Assosciates of Greater Boston  Medical Assosciates of Greater Boston  Medical Assosciates of Greater Boston  Memorial Medical Group Westborough  Southboro Medical Group Framingham  Michael A Cooper MD  Southboro Medical Group  Southboro Medical Group  Middlesex Family Practice  Charles River Medical Associates  Charles River Medical Associates  Charles River Medical Associates  Charles River Medical Associates  Charles River Medical Associates  Suburban Cardiology & Internal Medicine PC  Suburban Cardiology & Internal Medicine PC  Suburban Cardiology & Internal Medicine PC  Michael Pisick MD  Michael Pisick MD  Mohammad M Siddiqui MD  Mohammad M Siddiqui MD  Radha Agarwal MD  Karen-Gail Brandse MD  MetroWest Medical Center Emergency Dept  Charles River Medical Associates  Michael Gottlieb MD  Paul Griffel MD  Lawrence Handler MD  MetroWest Medical Center Emergency Dept  Raul Laguarda MD  Frank Malkin MD  Charles River Medical Assoc  Charles River Medical Associates  Fouad Zakher MD  MetroWest Medical Center Emergency Dept  Paula Jo Carbone MD  Paula Jo Carbone MD  Alla G Zaver MD  Concord Hillside Medical Associates  Wayside Health Associates  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Rheumatological Services  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Southboro Medical Group Adult Medicine  Paul J Wright MD  Roseanna H Means MD  Paul A Wood MD  Primary Caring  Primary Caring  Primary Caring  Metro West Health Center  Luzbella Southard MD  Steven Rosenman MD  Hopkinton Medical Care  Usha Bandari MD  Weston Primary Care  Marlborough Medical Associates  Marino Center  Marino Center  Hubert I Caplan MD  Marino Center  Comprehensive Psychiatric Associates  Marino Center  Wellesley Internal Medicine  Marino Center  Milford Internal Medicine Framingham, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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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 Framingham
Nearby Framingham Hospitals *MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Newton Wellesley Hospital Westborough State Hospital Westwood Lodge Hospital Milford Regional Medical Center VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Caritas Norwood Hospital Emerson Hospital Bournewood Hospital McLean Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Franciscan Hospital for Children Faulkner Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston Arbour Hospital Arbour HRI Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center Brigham & Women's Hospital New England Baptist Hospital Dana Farber Cancer Institute Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Massachusetts Hospital School Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Milton Hospital Somerville Hospital Lahey Clinic Medical Center UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital M I T Medical UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus Boston Medical Center Caritas Carney Hospital HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Worcester State Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Lawrence Memorial Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Tufts New England Medical Center New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital UMass Memorial Medical Center Memorial Campus Landmark Medical Center Adcare Hospital of Worcester St Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center Winchester Hospital Quincy Medical Center Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Whidden Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Melrose Wakefield Hospital Nashoba Valley Medical Center Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton Sturdy Memorial Hospital Arbour-Fuller Hospital South Shore Hospital Tewksbury Hospital HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus 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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