Hyperkalemia Center - Nashua, NHNashua 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 Nashua * Downtown Medical Associates  Medicine-Pediatrics of Nashua  Downtown Medical Associates  Medicine-Pediatrics of Nashua  Foundation Foot & Ankle  Mark L Mallek MD  Medicine-Pediatrics of Nashua  Peter Hacker & Shushama Jampani MDs  Peter Hacker & Shushama Jampani MDs  Richard Licata MD  The Physicians Group of Nashua  Nashua Primary Care  Medical & Renal Care PA  Medical & Renal Care PA  Nashua Area Health Center  Richard C Dai MD  Peter W Liao MD  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua  Walter G Wrobleski Jr. MD  King Medical Associates  Arthur Fitzmaurice MD  Yair Melamed MD  St Joseph Internal Medicine  St Joseph Internal Medicine  St Joseph Internal Medicine  St Joseph Internal Medicine  S J Internal Medicine  S J Internal Medicine  S J Internal Medicine  S J Internal Medicine  Merrimack Family Practice  Nashua West Adult Medicine  Nashua West Adult Medicine  Nashua West Adult Medicine  Foundation Internal Medicine  Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Clinic  Parkland Internal Medicine  Joseph P Cunniff MD  Elliot Primary Care Londonderry  Parkland Internal Medicine  Srilatha Kodali MD  Southern NH Internal Medicine Associates  Amherst Family Practice  Parkland Internal Medicine  Parkland Internal Medicine  George Bower MD  Bedford Internal Medicine PA  Scott J Diehl MD  Southern NH Internal Medicine Associates  Judith A Devine MD  Southern NH Internal Medicine Associates  Southern NH Internal Medicine Associates  Southern NH Internal Medicine Associates  Southern NH Internal Medicine Associates  Medical Group of Manchester  Queen City Medical Associates  Medical Group of Manchester  Queen City Medical Associates  Medical Group of Manchester  Medical Group of Manchester  Medical Group of Manchester  Northeast Gastroenterology Associates  Peak Internal Medicine Associates  Parkland Physician Services  Parkland Physician Services  Bay Medical Associates PA  Bay Medical Associates PA  Bay Medical Associates PA  Bay Medical Associates PA  Kenneth D Thomas MD  Granite State Med Ctr  Briarwood Primary Care  Hampshire Internal Medicine  Briarwood Primary Care  Neil J Markwith MD  Briarwood Primary Care  Derryfield Medical Group  Derryfield Medical Group  Margarita R Ochoa-Maya MD  Joseph B Savage MD  Manchester Internal Medicine Assoc  Webster Street Internal Medicine  Webster Street Internal Medicine  Webster Street Internal Medicine  Granite State Internal Medicine  Webster Street Internal Medicine  Emil K Karagiannis MD  Webster Street Internal Medicine  Webster Street Internal Medicine  Granite State Internal Medicine  Senior Health Primary Care  Senior Health Primary Care  Senior Health Primary Care  Senior Health Primary Care  Senior Health Primary Care  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic Nashua, New HampshireUpcoming 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 Nashua
Nearby Nashua Hospitals *Southern New Hampshire Medical Center St Joseph Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Parkland Medical Center Saints Medical Center Nashoba Valley Medical Center Northeast Rehabilitation Health Network Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center Elliot Hospital Tewksbury Hospital Catholic Medical Center Lawrence General Hospital Hampstead Hospital Manchester VA Medical Center Isham Health Center Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Haverhill Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Health Alliance Burbank Hospital Emerson Hospital Merrimack Valley Hospital HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus Lahey Clinic Medical Center Baldpate Hospital Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Monadnock Community Hospital UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital Winchester Hospital UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital McLean Hospital Heywood Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Lawrence Memorial Hospital Anna Jaques Hospital New Hampshire Hospital North Shore Medical Center Concord Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital Exeter Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore Somerville Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Westborough State Hospital Whidden Memorial Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Beverly Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital North Shore Children's Hospital Salem Hospital & the Birthplace Arbour HRI Hospital Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital M I T Medical Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brigham & Women's Hospital New England Baptist Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Tufts New England 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. |
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