Hyperkalemia Center - Germantown, MDGermantown 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 Germantown * Farzad Assar MD  Vinu Ganti MD  Hiru Khianey MD  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Physician Associates  Medical Access  Family Healthcare  Grace E Sagayadan MD  John R Melnick MD & Associates  Secure Medical Care  John R Melnick MD & Associates  Alan R Vinitsky MD  Brigitte Abrishami MD  Nicholas J Kohlerman III MD PhD  Nelson Lui MD  Ravi Passi MD PC  Asbury Physician Services LLC  Suhair A Abulfarag MD  Attan Kasid MD  M Rita Ghosh MD  Maryam Mizrahi MD  Anne S Wilson MD  Melinda Wolf MD  Mo-Ping Chow MD  Boo K Kim MD  J Benjamin Untiveros MD  Comprehensive Primary Care  FDA Center for Devices  Comprehensive Primary Care  Comprehensive Primary Care  Montgomery Medical  Wayne Meyer MD  Arthur Schoengold MD  James M Anchors MD  Optimal Health Physician  Martin W Graf MD  Plotsky Medical Associates  Plotsky Medical Associates  Philip J Schwartz MD  My Weight Doctor  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  David Charles MD  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Aimee Seidman MD PC  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Michael A Sauri MD PA dba Occupational Health Consultants  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Aimee Seidman MD PC  Greater Washington Dermatology  Anurita Mendhiratta MD  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Shady Grove  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Shady Grove  Joanne Kinney  Joseph R Robinson MD  Drs Dunford & Shumaker  Drs Dunford & Shumaker  Century Medicine  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Douglas C Frankel MD  Thomas V Joseph MD  Martha E Kern MD  Swaroop Rao MD  Ajay Reddy MD LLC  Pankaj Talwar MD  Mario O Belledonne MD  Alok Mathur MD  Usha Gollapalli MD  Dineshbhai Patel MD  John B K Allotey MD  Jere J Daum MD  Daniel I Kim MD  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Hadi Bahar MD  Thomas Q Garvey MD  Thomas Q Garvey MD  Advanced Internal Medicine PC  Evelyn D Jackson MD  Robert H Knitzer MD  Thomas E Dooley MD & Associates  Advanced Internal Medicine PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Kian Kaviani MD  Potomac Physician Associates PC Germantown, MarylandUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
2012-06-16
2012-06-16
2012-06-17
2012-07-21
2012-07-28
2012-09-01
2012-10-13
2012-10-28
2012-10-28
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 Germantown
Nearby Germantown Hospitals *Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Suburban Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare National Institutes of Health Reston Hospital Center Holy Cross Hospital Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Frederick Memorial Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital Howard County General Hospital Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Georgetown University Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Laurel Regional Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital Springfield Hospital Center Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center Providence Hospital Children's National Medical Center Dominion Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Howard University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Doctors Community Hospital Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Inova Alexandria Hospital Saint Elizabeth's Hospital United Medical Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Northwest Hospital Spring Grove Hospital Center Carroll Hospital Center Prince William Hospital Kernan Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Jefferson Memorial Hospital Saint Agnes Hospital Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Baltimore Washington Medical Center Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Fort Washington 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. |
Suggested Reading on Hyperkalemia (High Blood Potassium) by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
8 articles-
Burns (First Aid)
- Burns are categorized by severity as first, second, or third degree. First degree burns are similar to a painful sunburn. The damage is more severe with second degree burns, leading to blistering and more intense pain. The skin turns white and loses sensation with third degree burns. Burn treatment depends upon the location, total burn area, and intensity of the burn.
-
Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
-
Addison's Disease
- Addison disease is a hormonal (endocrine) disorder involving destruction of the adrenal glands (small glands adjacent to the kidneys). Diseased glands can no longer produce sufficient adrenal hormones (specifically cortisol) necessary for normal daily body functions. Symptoms include weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin. Treatment of Addison disease involves replacing, or substituting, the hormones that the adrenal glands are not making.
-
Kidney Failure
- Kidney failure can occur from an acute event or a chronic condition or disease. Prerenal kidney failure is caused by blood loss, dehydration, medication. Some of the renal causes of kidney failure are from sepsis, medications, rhabdomyolysis, multiple myeloma, and acute glomerulonephritis. Post renal causes of kidney failure include bladder obstruction, prostate problems, tumors, or kidney stones. Treatment options included diet, medications, or dialysis.
-
Hypertensive Kidney Disease
- High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and is one of the leading causes of kidney failure (end-stage renal kidney disease). Kidney damage, like hypertension, can be unnoticeable and detected only through medical tests. If you have kidney disease, you should control your blood pressure. Other treatment options include prescription medications.
-
Arrhythmia
- An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. With an arrhythmia, the heartbeats may be irregular or too slow (bradycardia), to rapid (tachycardia), or too early. When a single heartbeat occurs earlier than normal, it is called a prmature contraction.
-
Low Potassium (Hypokalemia)
- Potassium is an essential electrolyte necessary for cell function. Low potassium (hypokalemia) may be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, ileostomy, colon polyps, laxative use, diuretics, elevated corticosteroid levels, renal artery stenosis, and renal tubular acidosis, or other medications. Symptoms of low potassium include weakness, aches, and cramps of the muscles. Treatment is dependant upon the cause of the low potassium (hypokalemia).
-
Rhabdomyolysis
- Rhabdomyolysis is a rapid deterioration and destruction of skeletal muscle. Some of the causes of rhabdomyolysis include severe burns, muscle trauma, coma, seizures, electrolyte imbalance, medications (statins), viruses, bacteria. Treatment of rhabdomyolysis depends on the cause.
-
Burns (First Aid)
-
Medications
4 articles -
Procedures & Tests
1 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
1 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
1 articles -
Health News
1 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
