Hyperkalemia Center - National City, CANational City 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 National City * Renato B Masilungan MD  Enrique Espinosa-Melendez MD  Valerie C Altavas MD  Ira R Braverman MD Inc  Gastroenterology Associates  Griselda E Tiu MD  Roderick A Comunale II MD Inc  Iman I Mikhail MD  Paradise Senior Health Center  Gastroenterology Associates  Griselda E Tiu MD  Paradise Valley Hospital  Paradise Valley Hospital Hospitalist Dept  Paradise Valley Hospital  Internal Medicine Clinic  Juan M Calderon MD  Internal Medicine Clinic  Internal Medicine Clinic  Drs DeCarvalho & Shihata  Desta Digestive Disease Medical Center  John J Duque MD  Mark Y Johnson MD  Mushrik Kaisey MD  Drs Akther & Purushotham Kotha  Drs Akther & Purushotham Kotha  Kumara S Prathipati MD  Roger D Stoike MD  Caring Hearts Medical Clinic  Sharna B Shachar MD  Rocio M Flores MD  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Chula Vista  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Chula Vista  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Chula Vista  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Chula Vista  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Chula Vista  San Diego Arthritis Medical Clinic  Adla Tessier MD  Chula Vista Family Clinic  Karen Gordon MD  Southern California Cardiology Medical Group  Maria L Mara MD  Family Health Centers of San Diego  RevivaMed Roya Kohani MD  Gas Lamp Medical Center  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  Peter R Kelly MD  Patricia M Kettlehake MD  Genevieve E Bloom MD  Family Health Centers of San Diego  Family Health Centers of San Diego  Jeffrey K Williams MD  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Bruce Sahba MD Inc  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Downtown  Prima Primary Care Associates  Seagate Medical Group  J Ramiro Lopez MD  Prima Primary Care Associates  El Cajon Family Medicine  El Cajon Family Medicine  Balboa Park Internal Medicine  Allergy Medical Group of San Diego Inc  Allergy Medical Group of San Diego Inc  Kumara Day Prathipati & Lakshmi Prathipati MDs  Spruce Medical Group  Tu N Truong MD  Internal Medicine Associates  Internal Medicine Associates  Internal Medicine Associates  John Ponsiglione MD  Vijayalakshmi S Pratha MD  Internal Medicine Associates  Pamela Sawhney MD & Diana L Rowell MD  Internal Medicine Associates  Janette Gray MD, Inc dba The Center for Health & Wellbeing  Rudolf E Herzog MD  Joseph DeLuca MD  Egisto Salerno MD  Mark Adrian MD  Mark D Hendricks MD  M Dahlia Strauser MD  Michael J Sullivan MD  Neelakantan Ramineni MD  Manorama Reddy MD  Hau H Tan MD  Daniel J Bressler MD Inc  Internal Medicine Associates  Marc K Gehr MD  Tanaz Kahen-Biton MD  Mercy Clinic  Scripps Mercy Medical Group Hospitalists  A Grant Kingsbury MD & Leonard S Bernstein MD National City, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 National City
Nearby National City Hospitals *Paradise Valley Hospital Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista Sharp Coronado Hospital Bayview Behavioral Health Campus Naval Medical Center San Diego Promise Hospital of San Diego Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Kindred Hospital San Diego Vibra Hospital of San Diego Scripps Mercy Hospital UCSD Medical Center Hillcrest San Diego Hospice Alvarado Hospital San Diego Rehabilitation Institute San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women Sharp Grossmont Hospital Sharp Memorial Hospital La Jolla Nursing & Rehabilitation Center VA San Diego Health Care System UCSD Thornton Hospital Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla Scripps Green Hospital Aurora Behavioral Healthcare Pomerado Hospital Encinitas Nursing & Rehabilitation Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Palomar 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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