Hyperkalemia Center - Methuen, MAMethuen 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 Methuen * Chih Y Yeh MD  Pleasant Valley Internists PC  Caritas Holy Family Hospital  Pleasant Valley Internists PC  Branch Medical Group  Lawrence General Hospital Hospitalist Program  Haddad & Sayegh MDs  Lawrence G Kidd MD  Haddad & Sayegh MDs  New England Medical Specialists  New England Medical Specialists  P K Thakkar MD  Pentucket Medical at RiverWalk  Pentucket Medical at RiverWalk  Greater Lawrence Family Health Center  Salem NH Physicians Network PC  Ashish Gandhi MD  Salem NH Physicians Network PC  Leo W Lane DO  Mai T Nguyen MD  Mark C Nitzberg MD  Luba Tsypkin MD  Luba Tsypkin MD  Salem NH Physicians Network PC  Community Medical Professionals  Paul N Lemaitre MD  Phyllis N Spieler MD  New England Medical Group  Essex Medical Associates  William C Daly MD  Josef I Gendlerman MD & Michael I Gendlerman MD  Josef I Gendlerman MD & Michael I Gendlerman MD  Joseph J Herskovits MD  Shawsheen Medical Association  Shawsheen Medical Association  Merrimack Valley Pulmonary  Heartsafe Medical Office  Tracy Harris MD  Merrimack Valley Pulmonary  Heartsafe Medical Office  Merrimack Valley Pulmonary  Michael A Gogjian MD  Northeast Medical  Northeast Medical  Joseph B Guerrera MD  North Andover Pedatric Associates  Pentucket Medical Associates Internal Medicine  Pentucket Medical Associates Internal Medicine  Pentucket Medical Associates Haverhill Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology  Pentucket Medical Associates Haverhill Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology  Pentucket Medical Associates Internal Medicine  Pentucket Medical Associates Internal Medicine  Theodora Christopher MD  Syed M Rahman MD  Global Care Medical Group  Global Care Medical Group  Medical Centers of Greater Lowell  Jack C Chang MD PC  Whittier Medical Associates  Ulrich Ehrig MD  Whittier Medical Associates  Lydia Zuser MD  Saints Memorial Medical Center Cancer Center  Zaheer Ahmed MD  Nephrology Associates  George P Meltsakos MD  Nephrology Associates  Rajaa S Nahra MD  Nephrology Associates  Sebastian G Sepulveda MD  Alexandra Argasinski MD  Peter S Bradshaw MD  Mill City Medical Group  Mill City Medical Group  Mill City Medical Group  Mill City Medical Group  Woburn Medical Associates  Woburn Medical Associates  Woburn Medical Associates PC  Lowell Community Health Center  Lowell Community Health Center  Lowell Community Health Center  Lowell Community Health Center  Lowell Community Health Center  North Reading Medical Associates  Philip S Kotsios MD  Lata T Mundkur MD  Eric W Romanowsky MD  North Reading Medical Associates  Riverside Medical Group  Riverside Medical Group  Riverside Medical Group  Riverside Medical Group  Riverside Medical Group  Riverside Medical Group  John J Sullivan MD  Lahey Wilmington  Stephen P Murphy MD  Concentra Medical Center Wilmington  Rheumatology and Internal Medicine Associates Methuen, 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 Methuen
Nearby Methuen Hospitals *Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center Lawrence General Hospital Northeast Rehabilitation Health Network Isham Health Center Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Haverhill Merrimack Valley Hospital Saints Medical Center Tewksbury Hospital Baldpate Hospital Hampstead Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Parkland Medical Center Southern New Hampshire Medical Center St Joseph Hospital Anna Jaques Hospital Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Lahey Clinic Medical Center Winchester Hospital HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore North Shore Medical Center Beverly Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Emerson Hospital North Shore Children's Hospital Salem Hospital & the Birthplace Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Lawrence Memorial Hospital Elliot Hospital Exeter Hospital Nashoba Valley Medical Center McLean Hospital Whidden Memorial Hospital Catholic Medical Center Manchester VA Medical Center Somerville Hospital Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital Cambridge Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital M I T Medical Massachusetts General Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Arbour HRI Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston Addison Gilbert Hospital Tufts New England Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brigham & Women's Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Boston Medical Center New England Baptist Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Arbour Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Faulkner Hospital Bournewood Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center Portsmouth Regional Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Caritas Carney Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus UMass Memorial Marlborough 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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