Hyperkalemia Center - San Rafael, CASan Rafael 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 San Rafael * James D Taylor MD  Elizabeth B Seaman MD  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Marin Community Clinic  Marin Community Clinic  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Marin Community Clinic  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Marin General Hospital Hospitalist  Hillel S Abel MD  Marin Medical Group Inc  California Cancer Care  Joseph A Habis MD  Joseph A Habis MD  Katherine L Margolin MD  Drs Lambert & Levy  Marin Gastroenterology  Drs Lambert & Levy  Katherine L Margolin MD  Marin Medical Group Inc  Marin Medical Group Inc  Joseph A Habis MD  Marin Medical Group Inc  Michael C Chase MD  Patricia Bauman MD  Ruth Rubin MD  Ann Haiden DO  North Bay Medical Group  North Bay Medical Group  North Bay Medical Group  S Jack Kronfield MD  Clear Center of Health  Robert E Belknap MD  Integrative Health Consulting  Tom Steel Clinic  Prima Medical Group  Shan Kaur MD  Shan Kaur MD  Michael K Kwok MD, Irene Teper MD, Robert Va  Irene Teper MD  Prima Medical Group Novato  Mark E Sockell MD  Irene Teper MD  Stephen E Welter MD  East Bay Nephrology Medical Group  East Bay Nephrology Medical Group  East Bay Nephrology Medical Group  Khosrow Afsari MD  Ronald H Berman MD  William W Chen MD  Doctors Medical Center  UCSF VA Medical Center  UCSF VA Medical Center  Sharon J Jones MD  UCSF VA Medical Center  UCSF VA Medical Center  UCSF VA Medical Center  UCSF VA Medical Center  Docs Of The Bay  UCSF VA Medical Center  UCSF VA Medical Center  Burton Brody MD  Internal Medicine  Tekeli & Bukurov MDs  Drs Fong, Tsang, Wong & Chan  Randolph H Chase MD  California Pacific Family Health Center  Crawford Chung MD  Doctors Office  Internal Medicine  Barbara E Epremian MD  John C Fletcher MD & William Parmer MD Inc  Drs Fong, Tsang, Wong & Chan  MD 2 San Francisco  David A Goldberg MD  California Pacific Family Health Center  James Hansen MD  George Kimmerling MD  US & International Medicine Wing K King MD  Cohen Hufford & Koltzova-Rang MDs  Drs Kwok & Wong  California Pacific Family Health Center  California Pacific Family Health Center  California Pacific Family Health Center  MD 2 San Francisco  California Pacific Family Health Center  Neal Miyasaki MD  Piero Mustacchi MD  John C Fletcher MD & William Parmer MD Inc  Geoffrey C Quinn MD  California Pacific Family Health Center  David R Senechek MD  Clare Siu MD  California Pacific Family Health Center  Doctors Office  California Pacific Family Health Center San Rafael, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 San Rafael
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