Hyperkalemia Center - Napa, CANapa 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 Napa * VA Home of California  Sonoma Internal Medicine  Sonoma Internal Medicine  Yong Q Liu MD  Diane E Weissman MD & Brian M Sebastian MD  Andrew Patrinellis MD  Mary J Dylla MD  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Denise A Flaherty MD  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Kaiser Permanente Napa Adult Medicine  Napa Valley Neurology and Internal Medicine  Eugene Eisenberg MD  Napa Nephrology Consultants  Mai-Phuong Nguyen MD  Napa Valley Neurology and Internal Medicine  Napa Valley Neurology and Internal Medicine  Beard Road Medical Group  Phoenix Wellcare  Beard Road Medical Group  Beard Road Medical Group  Beard Road Medical Group  Community Health Clinic Ole  Community Health Clinic Ole  Ronald Julis MD  St Helena Center For Health  Thomas Stiles MD  Kaiser Permanente Petaluma  David A Chappell MD  Edward F Loker MD  Santa Rosa Internal Medicine  Santa Rosa Internal Medicine  Santa Rosa Internal Medicine  Santa Rosa Internal Medicine  Martin D Rubinger MD  Santa Rosa Internal Medicine  Kent M Matsuda MD  Sheldon P Weiss  Larry Marianella MD  Primary Care Associates  Primary Care Associates  Primary Care Associates  Brookwood Internal Medical Associates  Brookwood Internal Medical Associates  Brookwood Internal Medical Associates  Primary Care Associates  Primary Care Associates  Primary Care Associates  David A Charp MD  Sidney J Kurn MD  Lois C Johnson MD  Victor E Iacovoni MD  Victor E Iacovoni MD  Shan Kaur MD  Shan Kaur MD  Irene Teper MD  Michael K Kwok MD, Irene Teper MD, Robert Va  Prima Medical Group Novato  Mark E Sockell MD  Irene Teper MD  Stephen E Welter MD  Chris Kosakowski MD  Northern California Medical Associates  Chemical Dependency Clinic  Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa  Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa  Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa  Team Health West  Sutter Solano Medical Center  Sutter Solano Medical Center  Voltaire Velarde MD  Ruben S Velasquez MD  VA Outpatient Clinic at Mare Isle  VA Outpatient Clinic at Mare Isle  Eduardo M Abdala MD  Salano County Family Health Services Clinic  North Bay Center for Primary Care  North Bay Center for Primary Care  Sutter Regional Medical Foundation Care Ctr  Sutter Regional Medical Foundation  Sutter Regional Medical Foundation Care Ctr  Sutter Regional Medical Foundation Care Ctr  Amitabha Medical Clinic & Healing Ctr  Solano Primary Care  Touro University Medical Center  Touro University Medical Center  Touro University Medical Center  Patricia Bauman MD  Joseph A Habis MD  Joseph A Habis MD  Joseph A Habis MD  Terri L Turner DO  Josefina P Arenas MD  Sycamore Medical Group  Integrative Medical Clinic of Santa Rosa Napa, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 Napa
Nearby Napa Hospitals *Sonoma Valley Hospital Queen of the Valley Medical Center Napa State Hospital St Helena Hospital Petaluma Valley Hospital Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Main Campus Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa Chanate Campus Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Sutter Solano Medical Center Novato Community Hospital St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health Palm Drive Hospital Telecare Solano Psychiatric Health Facility NorthBay Medical Center Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center VacaValley Hospital Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo Healdsburg District Hospital Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital Marin General Hospital Contra Costa Regional Medical Center VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez John Muir Behavioral Health Center John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus 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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