Hyperkalemia Center - Santa Clara, CASanta Clara 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 Santa Clara * Yoonjung Cho MD & Kisuk J Cho MD  Yoonjung Cho MD & Kisuk J Cho MD  Family Care Medical Group  Camino Medical Group Santa Clara Clinic  Camino Medical Group Santa Clara Clinic  Camino Medical Group Santa Clara Clinic  Camino Medical Group Santa Clara Clinic  Camino Medical Group Santa Clara Clinic  Camino Medical Group Santa Clara Clinic  Camino Medical Group Santa Clara Clinic  George Yeh MD  Jimmy J Lin MD  Forest Medical Clinic  Farr & Farr MD  South Bay Sports & Preventive Medicine Associates Inc  Alfred L Hurwitz MD  Good Health Medical Center  Jagjit S Raju MD  South Bay Sports & Preventive Medicine Associates Inc  South Bay Sports & Preventive Medicine Associates Inc  Michael T Charney MD  Forest Avenue Medical Group  Forest Avenue Medical Group  Edeane S Matsumoto MD  Robert Mayle MD  Forest Avenue Medical Group  Forest Avenue Medical Group  San Jose Gastroenterology  Richard Ornelas MD  Shen Medicine & Pediatrics Associates  San Jose Gastroenterology  Herbert M Vogler MD  Andy S O Yu MD  Christopher Gunasekera MD  Dae-Wook Kang MD  Boo W Lee MD  Mychael Luu MD  Arthritis Care Center  Jonathan Ng MD  Silpa Avula MD & Anthony C Lopez MD  Han Kyu Chung MD  Alexander D Doan MD  Rani Ramachandran MD  Richard A Mahrer MD  Santa Clara Valley Medical Center  Carl M Kirsch MD  Santa Clara Valley Medical Center  Santa Clara Valley Medical Ctr  Kaiser Permanente Medical Group Cardiology  Kaiser Permanente Medical Group Cardiology  Kaiser Permanente Medical Group Cardiology  Kaiser Permanente Medical Group Cardiology  Kaiser Permanente Medical Group Cardiology  Santa Clara Medical Center Internal Medicine  Asif Aziz MD  South Valley Multi Specialty Group  ANTHONY C. LOPEZ M.D.  South Valley Multi Specialty Group  Valley Medical Consultants  Saratoga Medical Clinic  San Jose Good Samaritan Medical Group  San Jose Medical Group  San Jose Good Samaritan Medical Group  San Jose Medical Group  San Jose Medical Group  San Jose Good Samaritan Medical Group  Phiroze M Kazi MD  Alexander Korsunsky MD  Sang Ki Lee MD  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Andrew Y Lin MD  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  Camino Medical Group Internal Medicine  South Bay Respiratory Associates  Sergio Court MD  Mehdi C Doroodgar MD  South Bay Respiratory Associates  Hien Pham MD  Abas Tay MD  Habib Tobbagi MD  Thai V Tran MD  James Weidner MD  South Bay Respiratory Associates  Pacific Endocrine & Diabetes Health Center Inc  Don Dinh Tran & Nam Hua Tran MDs  Khalil Fattahi MD  Nicole T C Vecchi MD & Namieata Patyal MD  Jayashree Joshi MD  Debra A Fetters MD  Thomas Hsu MD  Vijay K Thukral MD  Leewen Liu MD  Alan S Wong MD  Richard W Ziegler MD Santa Clara, 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 Santa Clara
Nearby Santa Clara Hospitals *O'Connor Hospital Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Regional Medical Center of San Jose El Camino Hospital of Los Gatos El Camino Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital San Jose Good Samaritan Hospital Mission Oaks VA Palo Alto Health Care System Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Fremont Hospital Stanford Hospital & Clinics Menlo Park Surgical Hospital Washington Hospital Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center Sequoia Hospital Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center St Rose Hospital Livermore Division of the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System San Mateo Medical Center ValleyCare Health System Pleasanton Valley Memorial Hospital Eden Medical Center Mills Hospital Dominican Hospital Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Alameda County Medical Center Fairmont Campus John George Psychiatric Pavilion Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area San Leandro Hospital Mills-Peninsula Health Services San Ramon Regional Medical Center Saint Louise Regional Hospital Watsonville Community Hospital Alameda Hospital Seton Medical Center Coastside Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus 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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