Hyperkalemia Center - Potomac, MDPotomac 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 Potomac * Jere J Daum MD  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Rockville Internal Medical Group  Ajay Reddy MD LLC  Washington Center for Diabetes & Endocrinology LLC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Kian Kaviani MD  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Gary M Roggin MD  Russell R Rothenberg MD  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Potomac Physician Associates PC  Jeffrey Indrisano MD & Hubert Alpert MD  Montgomery Medical  Jeffrey Indrisano MD & Hubert Alpert MD  Jeffrey Indrisano MD & Hubert Alpert MD  Drs Dunford & Shumaker  Wayne Meyer MD  Arthur Schoengold MD  Drs Dunford & Shumaker  M Rita Ghosh MD  Maryam Mizrahi MD  Anne S Wilson MD  Melinda Wolf MD  My Weight Doctor  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  David Charles MD  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Aimee Seidman MD PC  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Michael A Sauri MD PA dba Occupational Health Consultants  Digestive Disease Consultants PA  Aimee Seidman MD PC  Optimal Health Physician  Martin W Graf MD  Plotsky Medical Associates  Ravi Passi MD PC  Plotsky Medical Associates  Philip J Schwartz MD  Greater Washington Dermatology  Anurita Mendhiratta MD  Usha Gollapalli MD  Thomas V Joseph MD  Martha E Kern MD  Dineshbhai Patel MD  Swaroop Rao MD  Pankaj Talwar MD  Hadi Bahar MD  Mario O Belledonne MD  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  FDA Center for Devices  Thomas Q Garvey MD  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Shady Grove  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Shady Grove  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Thomas Q Garvey MD  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Century Medicine  Daniel I Kim MD  Metropolitan Internal Medicine Associates  Metropolitan Internal Medicine Associates  Metropolitan Internal Medicine Associates  Silviu Ziscovici MD  Jan Bachowski MD  Gul Chablani MD  Comprehensive Primary Care  Drs Galotto & Feldman PA  Alpana Goswami MD  Comprehensive Primary Care  Carl I Margolis MD  James F McMurry Jr. MD  Surburban Hospital Emergency Dept  Felix B Sokolsky MD  Comprehensive Primary Care  John B K Allotey MD  Brigitte Abrishami MD  Mo-Ping Chow MD  Boo K Kim MD  Nicholas J Kohlerman III MD PhD  Nelson Lui MD  J Benjamin Untiveros MD  Douglas C Frankel MD Potomac, MarylandUpcoming 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 Potomac
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