Hyperkalemia Center - Stratford, CTStratford 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 Stratford * Primary Care Associates  Primed  Primed LLC  Primed LLC  Robert A Sheiman MD  Primed  John W Kirkland MD  Med Now Family Walk-In & Industrial Medical Center  Med Now Family Walk-In & Industrial Medical Center  Raymond J Keogh MD  David M Chess MD  Charles E Kochan Jr. MD  CT Medical Associates  CT Medical Associates  Physician Home & Health Services  Optimus Health Care Inc  Hana J Clements MD  Yousuf S M Ali, MD  Anton N Chinniah MD  Mill Hill Medical Consultants  Mill Hill Medical Consultants  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Pri Med LLC  Myl Rama MD  Optimus Health Care Inc  Optimus Health Care Inc  Optimus Health Care Inc  Multicare Medical Center PC  Clinical Research Consulting LLC  Ismail Tarkhan MD  Pang Wang MD  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  Drs Goldfarb, Ranno & Associates LLC  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  Nitai I Riegler & Steven L Saunders MDs  Nitai I Riegler & Steven L Saunders MDs  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  St Vincent's Immediate Health Care  Jose M Baez MD FACP  Milford Hospital Internal Medicine  Michael B Rudolph MD  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Santiago Escobar MD  St Vincent Medical Center Outreach  Park City Primary Care Center  Optimus Health Care Inc  Medical Specialists of Fairfield LLC  Park City Primary Care Center  Park City Primary Care Center  Connecticut Heart & Vascular Center PC  Milford Physician Services  Milford Physician Services  Milford Physician Services  Milford Physician Services  Milford Physician Services  Milford Physician Services  Anand & Anand MD  Anand & Anand MD  Rheumatology & Internal Medicine Associates  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  William B Fitzgerald MD  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Nephrology Associates PC  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Joao M A Nascimento MD  Bridgeport Internal Medicine  Medical Group of Milford  Michael J Cavaliere MD  Medical Group of Milford  Piotr Waldemar Baginski MD  Primary Care Physicians of Fairfield  Drs Hulcher & Napolitano  Primed LLC  Drs Hulcher & Napolitano  Primed LLC  Primed LLC  Primary Care Physicians of Fairfield  GI Health Specialists  Anthony G Ciccaglione MD  Jack D Glasser MD  Adrian W Klufas MD  Wayne S Levin MD  Primary Care of Shelton  Associates in Internal Medicine Stratford, ConnecticutUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 Stratford
Nearby Stratford Hospitals *Bridgeport Hospital Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center Milford Hospital St Vincent's Medical Center Griffin Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services Hospital of St Raphael Connecticut Mental Health Center Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital Yale-New Haven Hospital Norwalk Hospital Silver Hill Hospital St Charles Hospital John T Mather Memorial Hospital Stony Brook University Medical Center Danbury Hospital Northport VA Medical Center Gaylord Hospital Masonic Healthcare Center St Catherine of Siena Medical Center Stamford Hospital St Mary's Hospital Waterbury Hospital Four Winds Hospital Huntington Hospital Greenwich Hospital Pilgrim Psychiatric Center The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus MidState Medical Center New Milford Hospital Peconic Bay Medical Center Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center Putnam Hospital Center Northern Westchester Hospital Center Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center Southside Hospital Rye Hospital Center Syosset Hospital St Vincent's Hospital Westchester Glen Cove Hospital Bristol Hospital Plainview Hospital New York Presbyterian Westchester The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital White Plains Hospital Center 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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