Hyperkalemia Center - Whittier, CAWhittier 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 Whittier * B A Shaw MD  Howard Elkin MD  George K Pang MD  Norman Rapp MD  Edward A Reece MD  Whittier Internal Medicine & Nephrology  David O Cotton MD  Ridha A Hajjar MD  W W Sadowinski MD  Zourabian Gomberg & Gastelum MDs  Montes Medical Group  Shahram Ghanem MD  Marian Jalil MD  Paresh Patel MD  Urgent Care America Medical Clinic  Hassan Boroujerdi-Rad MD  Nathan Eitan MD  Kesheng Wu MD  CareMore Medical Group  Bright Health Physicians  Bright Health Physicians  Clinico Medico Familia  Bright Health Physicians  Care Medical  Chunilal Shah MD & Ajit Shah MD  Rosemead Medical Plaza  Rosemead Medical Plaza  Altamed Health Services  Allergy Medical Group  Allergy Medical Group  Imperial Primary Medical Group  Greater Valley Physicians Medical Group  Mark Li MD  Henry Q Winn MD  Tamra L Hocking MD  Hung C Yeung MD  Kidney Specialists  Wuu-Shyong Wu MD  Caremore Medical Group  Internal Medicine Specialists Medical Groups  Caremore Medical Group  Caremore Medical Group  Lisandro Quinones MD  Internal Medicine Specialists Medical Groups  Victor M Wassily MD  Sandra Nieto  David Aron MD  Sandra Nieto  Sandra Nieto  Sandra Nieto  Sandra Nieto  Aguilera & Cheng MDs  Manohar Senra MD  Bao Bin Yang MD  Shaheen Iqbal MD  Doctors Urgent Care Medico Group  B Waraich MD  John Hernandez MD  Afshin S Adhami MD  Anwar Arastu MD  Austin & Vatave MD Inc  Austin & Vatave MD Inc  Mohammad H Rasekhi MD  Beverly Internal Medicine  Rainer G Bansuan MD  Ngoc Nguyen MD  Soon Kwun MD  HealthCare Partners El Monte  Gastroenterology Consultants  Aida Salatinjants MD  Crown City Medical Group  Crown City Medical Group  Talbert Medical Group  Lucita Cruz MD  Talbert Medical Group  Talbert Medical Group  Talbert Medical Group  Renee Patel MD  Huy Quang Han MD  Hugo A Revollo MD  Sunrise Medical Clinic Inc  Comprehensive Medical Group  Kenneth L Cohen MD  Harold Hsu MD  William Hung MD  Harold Hsu MD  Vermont Medical Clinic  Anthony C Chen MD  Show-Shan S Cherng MD  Edmund B Foo MD  Colima Medical Clinic  Ray L Hsiao MD  Son H Le MD  Wu-Hui Liu MD  Oscar Perez MD  Arunpal S Sehgal MD  Nazar Al-Bussam MD  Frischer Medical Group  Vijay Kamdar MD  Atlas Pain Management Medical Corporation Whittier, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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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 Whittier
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