Hyperkalemia Center - Marietta, GAMarietta 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 Marietta * Wellstar Cherokee Street Internal Medicine  Wellstar Cherokee Street Internal Medicine  Wellstar Cherokee Street Internal Medicine  Kennestone Hospital Hospitalist Group  Kennestone Hospital Hospitalist Group  Kennestone Hospital Hospitalist Group  Kennestone Hospital Hospitalist Group  Kennestone Hospital Hospitalist Group  Wellstar Medical Specialists  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Wellstar Infectious Disease  Wellstar Medical Specialists  Wellstar Medical Specialists  Wellstar Medical Specialists  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Wellstar Infectious Disease  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Marietta Physician  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Marietta Rheumatology Associates PC  Wellstar Internal Medicine  Wellstar Internal Medicine  James Lee Fisher MD  David M Clifford MD  Wellstar Internal Medicine  Adult Medicine of Marietta  Adult Medicine of Marietta  Marietta Primary Care Center  Kennestone Internal Medicine  Adult Medicine of Marietta  Adult Medicine of Marietta  Kennestone Internal Medicine  Adult Medicine of Marietta  Marietta Primary Care Center  Marietta Primary Care Center  Mohammad A Khan MD  Marietta Internal Medicine  Marietta Internal Medicine  Marietta Internal Medicine  Drs Cousins & Cantrell  Drs Cousins & Cantrell  Cobb Pulmonary Associates PC  Primary Care Partners PC  Primary Care Partners PC  Primary Care Partners PC  Primary Care Partners PC  Marcia L Delk MD  Piedmont Physicians of Marietta  J & S Healthcare Associates  Imani VanNoy MD  Shubhang Mazumdar MD  James T Cooper MD  Jay Veliyath MD  Smyrna Medical Center  Smyrna Medical Center  Rose M Briglevich MD  Thomas J Demarco MD  Tina Jones MD  Joseph Khouri MD PC  Joseph Khouri MD PC  The Emory Clinic Smyrna  The Emory Clinic Smyrna  Genesis Healthcare Associates  Khalid Y Siddiq MD  Radhika C Rao & Alexander S Voljavec MDs  The Emory Clinic Smyrna  Wellstar Health Systems  Wellstar Urgent Care  Dave & Dave MDs  Westside Gastroenterology Associates  Wellstar Hospitalist Group  Wellstar Hospitalist Group  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Wellstar Hospitalist Group  Westside Gastroenterology Associates  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Georgia Lung Associates PC  Cobb Nephrology  Cobb Medical Group  Charles D Markle MD PC  Cobb Medical Group  Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic  Peachtree Allergy & Asthma  Charles D Markle MD PC  James A Sexson MD LLC  Cobb Medical Group  James A Sexson MD LLC  Cobb Nephrology  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Cardiovascular Medicine PC  Cumberland Internal Medicine  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Apex Medical Center PC  Joseph L Micca MD  Georgia Internal Medicine Marietta, GeorgiaUpcoming 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 Marietta
Nearby Marietta Hospitals *Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Devereux Georgia Treatment Network Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Emory Adventist Hospital Ridgeview Institute Wellstar Cobb Hospital Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite Northside Hospital Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta Piedmont Hospital Shepherd Center Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta North Fulton Regional Hospital Hillside Hospital Kindred Hospital Atlanta Emory University Hospital Midtown Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital Atlanta Medical Center Laurel Heights Hospital Grady Health System Children's Healthcare at Egleston Atlanta VA Medical Center Emory University Hospital Wellstar Paulding Hospital Wellstar Douglas Hospital DeKalb Medical Center DeKalb Medical Regency Hospital of South Atlanta South Fulton Medical Center Northside Hospital Cherokee Inner Harbour Hospitals Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth Cartersville Medical Center Emory Johns Creek Hospital Glancy Rehabilitation Center Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta Anchor Hospital Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica Southern Regional Medical Center Northside Hospital Forsyth DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale Gwinnett Medical Center Emory Eastside Medical Center SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Piedmont Fayette 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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