Hyperkalemia Center - Saint Peters, MOSaint Peters 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 Saint Peters * SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  St John's Urgent Care Center at St Peters  Boonslick Medical Group Inc  Boonslick Medical Group Inc  Boonslick Medical Group Inc  Boonslick Medical Group Inc  Saira Asadullah MD  Missouri Endocrine & Diabetes  St Charles Nephrology  BJC Medical Group St Peters  Richard E Parcinski DO FCCP LLC  Brian Stufflebam MD  Romulo J Fajatin MD  Joseph G Viviano Jr MD FACP  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  Esse Health  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  Saint Mary Institute  Family Medicine Clinic  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  BJC Urgent Care O Fallon  Saint Charles Veteran Clinic  Saint Charles Veteran Clinic  Family Medicine at Wing Haven  Donald Snodgrass MD  Bev J Fingerhood MD  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  SSM St Charles Clinic Medical Group  St Charles County Internal Medicine  Internal Medicine Associates  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Internal Medicine Associates  Internal Medicine Associates  Midwest Surgical Specialties  Douglas R Berson MD  Drs Genova, Ghazal-Albar & Bollis  Crestview Medical Associates  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Crestview Medical Associates  Kevin D Weikart MD  Ronald K Wepprich MD  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Chesterfield Medical  St Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Internal Medicine of St Luke's LLC  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  InternaCare LLC  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Drs Kumar Mera & Boesch  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  John A Davidson MD  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Internal Medicine of St Luke's LLC  Ron Javdan MD  Conway Internists  InternaCare LLC  Chesterfield Internal Medicine & Rheumatology LLC  Conway Internists  Drs Kumar Mera & Boesch  Internal Medicine of St Luke's LLC  James F. Loomis, Jr., MD  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Drs Kumar Mera & Boesch  Salma Mustafa MD  Diagnostic Internists Inc  Mary K O'Dowd MD  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Diagnostic Internists Inc  Clayton Internal Medicine  Habbouba Salibi MD  Schmid Adult Health & Wellness Inc  Stephen Schuman MD  Arnold Tepper MD  InternaCare LLC  Clinic of Internal Medicine  Arnold S Tepper MD  Arnold S Tepper MD  Robert C Uchiyama MD  County Internal Medicine LLC  Digestive Disease Medical Consultants PC  Steven F Willey MD  Health & Wellness Center LLC  Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Cardio Pulmonary Associates Saint Peters, MissouriUpcoming 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 Saint Peters
Nearby Saint Peters Hospitals *St John's Urgent Care Center Saint Peters Barnes-Jewish St Peter's Hospital St John's Mercy Urgent Care Center Center Pointe Hospital St Luke's Urgent Care Center in St Charles Progress West HealthCare Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center at WingHaven SSM St Joseph Hospital West SSM St Joseph Health Center SSM DePaul Health Center St Luke's Hospital Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital St John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Ranken Jordan Pediatric Rehabilitation Dubuis Hospital of St Louis SSM St Joseph Health Center Wentzville St Luke's Urgent Care Center on Clarkson Road St John's Mercy Medical Center Missouri Baptist Medical Center Northwest HealthCare Shriners Hospital for Children Des Peres Hospital Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital SSM Rehab SSM St Mary's Health Center SSM St Clare Health Center Christian Hospital NE Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center Forest Park Community Hospital Select Specialty Hospital St Louis St Luke's Urgent Care Center in Fenton Lincoln County Medical Center Barnes-Jewish Hospital North Campus Kindred Hospital St Louis Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus St Louis Children's Hospital The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center Kindred Hospital St Anthony's St Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division Saint Louis University Hospital St Anthony's Medical Center SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center St Clare's Hospital St Anthony's Health Center Alton Memorial Hospital St Alexius Hospital Broadway Campus Jersey Community Hospital St John's Mercy Hospital Gateway Regional Medical Center St Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital Touchette Regional 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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