Hyperkalemia Center - West Hartford, CTWest Hartford 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 West Hartford * Personal Care Physicians LLC  Allan M Jacobs MD  Personal Care Physicians LLC  Julian Parsons MD  Quinones Medical Group LLC  Collins Medical Associates PC of Hartford  William J Pickering MD  Collins Medical Associates PC of Hartford  Collins Medical Associates PC of Hartford  ProHealth Physicians of West Hartford  ProHealth Physicians of West Hartford  ProHealth Physicians of West Hartford  Robert E Koorse MD  Hartford Medical Group Bishop's Corner  Hartford Medical Group South Main St  Hartford Medical Group South Main St  Hartford Medical Group Bishop's Corner  Hartford Medical Group Bishop's Corner  Hartford Medical Group South Main St  Geriatric Medicine Consultants Home Visit Practice  UConn Health Partners West Hartford  UConn Health Partners West Hartford  UConn Health Partners Pediatrics  UConn Health Partners West Hartford  Herbert S Hoffman MD FACP  UConn Health Partners West Hartford  UConn Health Partners West Hartford  Collins Medical Associates 2 PC  Collins Medical Associates 2 PC  Collins Medical Associates 2 PC  Collins Medical Associates 2 PC  Collins Medical Associates 2 PC  Collins Medical Associates 2 PC  Gregory Isenberg MD  Elmwood Medical Group  Prohealth Physicians  William Geary MD  Collins Medical Associates  Prime HealthCare  Collins Medical Associates  Prohealth Physicians  Saint Francis Hospital Department of Medicine  St Francis Mount Sinai Regional Cancer Center  Saint Francis Hospital Department of Medicine  Woodland Physician Associates  Woodland Physician Associates  Saint Francis Hospital Department of Medicine  Woodland Physician Associates  St Francis Mount Sinai Regional Cancer Center  Saint Francis Hospital Department of Medicine  Barrak & Wenceslao MDs  Arrhythmia Consultants of Connecticut LLC  Arrhythmia Consultants of Connecticut LLC  Woodland Physician Associates Inc  M Nathan Lassman MD  Medical Outpatient Services  Robert M Frost MD  Medical Outpatient Services  Rolf Knoll MD  M Nathan Lassman MD  Arrhythmia Consultants of Connecticut LLC  Woodland Physician Associates Inc  Medical Outpatient Services  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Dr.Mark Schaner D.O Internal Medicine  H Robert Silverstein MD  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Woodland Physician Associates Inc  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Barrak & Wenceslao MDs  Hebrew Home & Hospital  Newington Internal Medicine Primary Care LLP  Newington Internal Medicine Primary Care LLP  Everyday Medical Center  Navaratnasingam Mohanraj MD  Newington Internal Medicine Primary Care LLP  Jerald L Spitz MD  Jerald L Spitz MD  Grove Hill Medical Center Newington  Grove Hill Medical Center Newington  Eileen C Comia MD LLC  Access Healthcare PC  Access Healthcare PC  Roy A Kellerman MD LLC  Access Healthcare PC  Daniel Marshall & Oksana Kloyzner MDs  Daniel Marshall & Oksana Kloyzner MDs  Collins Medical Associates APC  UCHC Internal Medicine Associates  UCHC Internal Medicine Associates  UCHC Internal Medicine Associates  The Carole & Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center  UCHC Internal Medicine Associates  UCHC Internal Medicine Associates  UConn Health Center Infectious Disease  Marja M Hurley MD  UCHC Nephrology Associates  UCHC Geriatrics Associates  UCHC Internal Medicine Associates West Hartford, 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 West Hartford
Nearby West Hartford Hospitals *St Francis Hospital & Medical Center Connecticut Children's Medical Center The Hospital at Hebrew Healthcare Hartford Hospital Institute of Living Hartford Hospital University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey VA Connecticut Healthcare System Newington Campus Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital St Francis Care Hospital Mount Sinai Campus Cedarcrest Hospital Hospital for Special Care The Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain Campus Veterans Home & Hospital Rocky Hill Manchester Memorial Hospital Bristol Hospital MidState Medical Center Middlesex Hospital The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus Riverview Hospital for Children & Youth Rushford Center Connecticut Valley Hospital Rockville General Hospital Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care St Mary's Hospital Gaylord Hospital Masonic Healthcare Center Waterbury Hospital Johnson Memorial Hospital Western Massachusetts Hospital Noble Hospital Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital Mercy Medical Center Baystate Medical Center Shriners Hospital for Children Kindred Hospital Park View Windham Community Memorial Hospital Natchaug Hospital Providence Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts Holyoke Medical Center Hospital of St Raphael Connecticut Mental Health Center Yale-New Haven Hospital Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital Griffin Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus Wing Memorial Hospital & Medical 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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