Hyperkalemia Center - Laguna Beach, CALaguna Beach 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 Laguna Beach * Laguna Beach Community Clinic  Eugene Levin MD FACP  South Coast Medical Center Emergency  Robert V Eller DO  Robert V Eller DO  Cherie Hinchliffe MD  Kim & Park MDs  Szabolcs G Kovacs MD  Brian Lo MD Inc  Robert V Eller DO  Pacific Crest Medical Group  Pacific Crest Medical Group  Pacific Crest Medical Group  Pacific Crest Medical Group  Susan Dindot MD  Vincent R Duda MD & Quan H Nguyen MD  Laguna Niguel Family Medical Center  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Kaiser Permanente  Greg A Brown MD  Orange County Heart Center  Orange County Heart Center  Peter S Jungwirth MD  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  John W Geier MD  Manijeh Javaheri MD & Ali Ghazvini MD  Suhail Hawit MD  Saddleback Medical Group  Manijeh Javaheri MD & Ali Ghazvini MD  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Louis S Scarcella MD  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Ali Tabatabai Incorporated  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Zander Medical Group Inc  Reza Govashiri MD  South Orange County Endocrinology  Sonja S Krafcik MD  Patrick Chaipat MD  William Davies MD  South County Medical Associates  South County Medical Associates  South County Medical Associates  K D Naidu MD  South County Medical Associates  South County Medical Associates  Housecall Doctors Medical Group  Richard H Greengold MD  Lawrence J Luppi MD & Jason J Pang MD  Lawrence J Luppi MD & Jason J Pang MD  Sukhu Medical Group  Maziar Zamani MD  Senior Care Medical Associates Inc  Senior Care Medical Associates Inc  Senior Care Medical Associates Inc  Senior Care Medical Associates Inc  Senior Care Medical Associates Inc  Hamid Towhidian MD PC  Ali Ghahraman MD  UCI Primary Care Medical Group  UCI Primary Care Medical Group  UCI Primary Care Medical Group  UC Irvine Student Health Center  James T Hamilton MD  Avocado Medical Group  James T Hamilton MD  Pacific Gastroenterology  Richard C Harano MD  James T Hamilton MD  Avocado Medical Group  Avocado Medical Group  Jack Palmer MD  Surinder Saini MD  Silverberg Surgical & Medical Group  Newport Family Medicine  Norman Bain MD  Newport Center Medical Group  Newport Center Medical Group  Monarch Healthcare  Newport Center Medical Group  Newport Center Medical Group  Newport Center Medical Group  Camino Health Center  Seijo Oi MD  Drs Prewitt & Rose  Camino Health Center  Drs Prewitt & Rose  Brent Silvers MD  Monarch Healthcare  Newport Center Medical Group  Newport Center Medical Group  Newport Center Medical Group Laguna Beach, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
2012-06-10
2012-06-23
2012-06-30
2012-07-04
2012-07-22
2012-08-25
2012-09-01
2012-09-22
2012-09-30
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 Laguna Beach
Nearby Laguna Beach Hospitals *Mission Hospital Laguna Beach Saddleback Memorial Medical Center Laguna Hills Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission Mission Hospital Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian College Hospital Costa Mesa Coastal Communities Hospital Tustin Hospital & Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Tustin Rehabilitation Hospital Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center Western Medical Center Santa Ana Huntington Beach Hospital Kindred Hospital Santa Ana HealthBridge Children's Rehabilitation Hospital Chapman Medical Center Children's Hospital Orange County St Joseph Hospital Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center University Of California Irvine Medical Center Kindred Hospital Westminster Western Medical Center Anaheim Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim Regional Medical Center Anaheim General Hospital West Anaheim Medical Center Placentia-Linda Hospital Los Alamitos Medical Center VA Long Beach Healthcare System Corona Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation La Palma Intercommunity Hospital St Jude Medical Center Corona Regional Medical Center Tri-City Regional Medical Center Community Hospital of Long Beach Kindred Hospital Brea St Mary Medical Center Kindred Hospital La Mirada Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Miller Children's Hospital College Hospital Cerritos Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Norwalk Community Hospital Bellflower Medical Center Lakewood Regional Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center Metropolitan State Hospital Whittier Hospital Medical Center Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Inland Valley Medical Center Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center Fallbrook Hospital Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro Downey Regional Medical Center Chino Valley Medical Center Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center Rancho Springs Medical Center Catalina Island Medical 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. |
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
