Hyperkalemia Center - New Braunfels, TXNew Braunfels 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 New Braunfels * Douglas F Bahr MD  Christus Health Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease  Christus Health Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease  Christus Health Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease  Kathleen B Rockwood MD  Christus Health Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease  Basel Dabas MD  Haoran Yu MD  Danette R Elliott Mullens DO  Danette R Elliott Mullens DO  Gloria Wright DO  Kellum Medical Group PA  Vernon C Haverlah DO  Sankararao Tamtam MD  Yu-Jie Kuo MD  Robert L Frets MD  Central Texas Medical Center  Office of Dolan Galaviz & Smith  Central Texas Medical Center  Central Texas Medical Center  Kenneth Long MD  Corridor Primary Care  Office of Dolan Galaviz & Smith  Central Texas Medical Center  Jairo L Bermuda MD  Julia B Symon MD  Northeast Internal Medicine Associates  Northeast Internal Medicine Associates  Northeast Internal Medicine Associates  Northeast Internal Medicine Associates  Cardiovascular Associates San Antonio PA  Toepperwein Family Practice  Tin A Hla MD  Tin A Hla MD  Wimberley Diagnostic Clinic  Wellmed at Northern Hills  Wellmed at Northern Hills  Dante P Escalante MD  NE Baptist Internal Medicine  NE Baptist Internal Medicine  NE Baptist Internal Medicine  A Vicki Rickerson MD  Nazli Uppal MD  Steven M Bauer MD  Heart & Vascular Institute PA  Abdu Kadri MD NFR Medical  Summit Family Medicine  Robert G Bass Jr MD  North Central Urgent Care  Lawrence Alder MD  San Antonio Internal Medicine Group  San Antonio Internal Medicine Group  Neurology & Sleep Specialists PA  San Antonio Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders  Yolanda Marcos MD  RMG Health Center  Healthcare Discoveries  IMED Internal Medicine  IMED Internal Medicine  John E Dickson MD PA  IMED Internal Medicine  IMED Internal Medicine  Quiroz Adult Medicine Clinic  IMED Internal Medicine  HealthTexas Medical Group Alamo Heights Clinic  Nix Alamo Heights  Nix Alamo Heights  Nix Alamo Heights  Zarate Medical Group  Zarate Medical Group  Mark Lee Thornton MD  Kathy Lacivita MD  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  IPC The Hospitalists Company  CommuniCare Health Centers  CommuniCare Health Centers New Braunfels, TexasUpcoming 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 New Braunfels
Nearby New Braunfels Hospitals *Christus Santa Rosa New Braunfels Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Central Texas Medical Center Northeast Methodist Hospital Laurel Ridge Treatment Center COMPASS Hospital at San Antonio Mission Vista Behavioral Health Center Spine Hospital of South Texas Northeast Baptist Hospital North Central Baptist Hospital Seton Edgar B Davis Memorial Hospital Nix Specialty Health Center Warm Springs Specialty Hospital Luling Southeast Baptist Hospital Metropolitan Methodist Hospital Kindred Hospital San Antonio Baptist Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital San Antonio TexSAn Heart Hospital Nix Medical Center CHRISTUS Santa Rosa City Centre & Children's Hospital Southwest Mental Health Center HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Institute of San Antonio Methodist Children's Hospital of South Texas Methodist Hospital St Luke's Baptist Hospital Methodist Specialty & Transplant Hospital University Health System San Antonio Texas Specialty Hospital Warm Springs San Antonio Rehabilitation Hospital LifeCare Hospitals of San Antonio San Antonio State Hospital South Texas VA Healthcare System Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital Northwest CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Medical Center CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Rehabilitation Hospital Texas Center for Infectious Disease Seton Southwest Healthcare Center Promise Hospital of San Antonio Southwest General 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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