Hyperkalemia Center - Meriden, CTMeriden 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 Meriden * Benjamin Kahn MD  Crossroads Health PC  Lefkowitz-Scollan MDs LLC  Crossroads Health PC  Lefkowitz-Scollan MDs LLC  Janet B Dickinson MD  Pro Health Physicians  Pro Health Physicians  Pro Health Physicians  Giosa & Brown Pulmonary Associates  Gastroenterology Specialists PC  Gastroenterology Specialists PC  Puranik Family Medical Center  Christopher Jakubowski MD  Silver Medical and Rehab Group  Concentra Medical Center  Family Practice of Greater New Haven  Henry B Hofbauer MD  Pei Sun MD  Gaylord Hospital  Gaylord Hospital  Craig M Bogdanski MD  Family Practice & Internal Medicine LLC  Jeffrey H Gimbel MD LLC  Family Practice & Internal Medicine LLC  Masonicare Primary Care Physicians  Richard B Wein MD  Midstate Medical Primary Care Specialist  Midstate Medical Primary Care Specialist  General Medical  General Medical  Midstate Medical Group  Kevin P Greene MD & Associates PC  Andrew D Guest MD  Youssef B Khawaja MD  Alkesh Patel MD  James Sarfeh MD  Medical Care Center of Cheshire  Kensington Primary Care  Kensington Primary Care  Joseph Babiarz MD  Antoni Berger MD  Stanislaw P Chorzepa DO  Anthony D Ciardella MD  Othman El-Alami MD  Ralph A Giarnella MD  Leonard C Glaser MD  Richard N Goldberg MD PC  Solano Medical  Solano Medical  Grove Hill Medical Center Pulmonology  Grove Hill Medical Center Pulmonology  Grove Hill Cromwell  Maud Ward MD LLC  Cheshire Endocrinology  AnaMaria Apoltan MD  Connecticut Medical Group Cheshire  Connecticut Medical Group Cheshire  Connecticut Medical Group Cheshire  Connecticut Medical Group Cheshire  Mount Carmel Internal Medicine & Geriatrics  Connecticut Medical Group Cheshire  Sudhir Bhatnagar MD  Nasim F Toor MD  Central Connecticut Primary Care Associates  Central Connecticut Primary Care Associates  Central Connecticut Primary Care Associates  NBGH Internal Medicine  Endocrinology & Primary Care  NBGH Internal Medicine  Endocrinology & Primary Care  NBGH Internal Medicine  Jerzy S Jedrychowski MD  Barry S Steckler MD  Navaratnasingam Mohanraj MD  Lucyna Kolakowska MD  Community Health Center  Community Health Center  Community Health Center  Community Health Center  Drs Harbut & Harbut  Grove Hill Medical Center Plainville  Grove Hill Medical Center Plainville  Grove Hill Medical Center Plainville  Victor R Sawicki Jr. MD  A Wazed Mahmud MD  Daniel Belin MD  Hospital for Special Care Dept of Medicine  Midstate Nephrology  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  Midstate Nephrology  Hospital for Special Care Infectious Disease  Middlesex Medical Associates  Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Medicine  Middlesex Hospital  Craig Winderman MD  James B Fanning Sr MD  Stephen Zebrowski MD  Stephen Zebrowski MD Meriden, ConnecticutUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 Meriden
Nearby Meriden Hospitals *MidState Medical Center The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus Gaylord Hospital Masonic Healthcare Center Middlesex Hospital Connecticut Valley Hospital The Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain Campus Riverview Hospital for Children & Youth Rushford Center Hospital for Special Care Veterans Home & Hospital Rocky Hill Bristol Hospital St Mary's Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System Newington Campus Cedarcrest Hospital Waterbury Hospital University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey Institute of Living Hartford Hospital Connecticut Children's Medical Center Hartford Hospital St Francis Hospital & Medical Center Hospital of St Raphael Connecticut Mental Health Center Yale-New Haven Hospital Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital The Hospital at Hebrew Healthcare Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital St Francis Care Hospital Mount Sinai Campus VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus Griffin Hospital Manchester Memorial Hospital Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Milford Hospital Rockville General Hospital Bridgeport Hospital Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care St Vincent's Medical Center New Milford Hospital Windham Community Memorial Hospital Natchaug Hospital Danbury 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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