Hyperkalemia Center - Owensboro, KYOwensboro 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 Owensboro * Joyce A Haislip MD PSC  Owensboro Medical Health Systems  R Wrathen Medley Jr. MD  Owensboro Internal Medicine Associates PSC  Owensboro Internal Medicine Associates PSC  Green River Heart Institute  Ramez A Salamah MD  Bluegrass Internal Medicine  Bluegrass Internal Medicine  Bluegrass Internal Medicine  Choice Care Associates PSC  Bluegrass Internal Medicine  Owensboro Primary Care  Samuel C Dunlany MD  Jeffrey S Hofer MD  Physicians Affiliated Care  Zouhair Bibi MD  Physicians Affiliated Care  Physicians Affiliated Care  John Howard MD  Physicians Affiliated Care  Mohammed Sayed MD  Doctors Clinic  Zenaida A Maddela MD & Ricardo Maddela MD  Deaconess Clinic The Heart Group  Jason Samuel MD  Ohio Valley Medical Associates  Lee B Sparks MD  M S Community Health Center  M S Community Health Center  M S Community Health Center  Regional Medical Center  Trover Clinic Internal Medicine  Trover Clinic Internal Medicine  Trover Clinic  Multicare Specialists  Wans Clinic  Deaconess Primary Care Morganfield  Craig Johnson MD  Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic  James C Dodson MD  Wilkes Clinic  J Terry Fuqua MD  Henry C Covington MD  Prakash Shah MD  Pennyrile Family Physicians  Pennyrile Family Physicians  Christian Health Center  Sahetya Medical Group  Sahetya Medical Group  Sam R Kasri MD  WKU Health Service  Carlos Rotellar MD  Heart Center of Bowling Green  Bowling Green Internal Medicine & Pediatrics  Bowling Green Internal Medicine & Pediatrics  Bowling Green Internal Medicine & Pediatrics  Bowling Green Internal Medicine & Pediatrics  Bowling Green Medical Clinic  Stanley H Hsieh & Ansos Hsieh MDs  Corp Care  PrimeCare Medicine Associates  PrimeCare Medicine Associates  Tri Rivers Healthcare PLLC  Heartland Patient Care  Heartland Patient Care  Heartland Patient Care  Heartland Patient Care  Lincoln Trail Medical Associates  James Stephens MD  Patterson Medical & Diagnostic Center  Elizabethtown Hematology & Oncology  Elizabethtown Hematology & Oncology  Woodland Medical Specialists  Elizabethtown Hematology & Oncology  Hardin Hospital Hospitalists  N Tien Young MD  Nephrology Associates  Nephrology Associates  Xavier Healthcare PLLC  Vivian Bland MD  Godfrey Godfrey Godfrey & Eklund MDs  Godfrey Godfrey Godfrey & Eklund MDs  Godfrey Godfrey Godfrey & Eklund MDs  Godfrey Godfrey Godfrey & Eklund MDs  Hodgenville Clinic  CMH Physicians Office  Suresh Nair MD  Suresh Nair MD  Southwest Internal Medicine  Pleasure Ridge Primary Care  Caritas Physician Group Valley Medical  Southend Medical Clinic  Coveron Memorial Hospital Physicians Office  Scottsville Medical Plz  Norton Medical Associates Dixie  Hansen Internal Medicine  Hansen Internal Medicine  Bullitt County Family Practitioners  HIPS Hospitalist Group at St Mary's & Elizabeth Hospital Owensboro, KentuckyUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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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 Owensboro
Nearby Owensboro Hospitals *Owensboro Medical Health System Rivervalley Behavioral Health Hospital St Mary's Warrick Perry County Memorial Hospital The Women's Hospital Deaconess Cross Pointe HEALTHSOUTH Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital St Elizabeth Ann Seton Specialty Care Hospital St Mary's Medical Center Evansville State Hospital Ohio County Hospital Methodist Hospital Deaconess Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Evansville Breckinridge Memorial 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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