Hyponatremia Center - Altoona, PAAltoona Internist Doctors for HyponatremiaType 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 Altoona * Venkata Pericherla MD  Blair Medical Associates  Blair Medical Associates  Blair Medical Associates  Pleasant Valley Cardiology  Pleasant Valley Cardiology  Pawan K Gupta MD  Altoona Hospital Emergency  Manickam Sankaran MD  K Siripala And Associates  K Siripala And Associates  Jon E Popovich MD  Lakemont Medical Center  Lakemont Medical Center  Tipton Medial Diagnostic Center  Southern Cove Medical Center  Tyrone Medical Associates  Pediatrics & Beyond  Larry R Mastrine MD  Molly B Trostle DO  Robert C Lamey MD  James E Savory MD  J C Blair Memorial Hospital  Bruce L Thomas MD  Baltazar L Corcino MD  Geisinger Medical Group  Geisinger Medical Group  Guided Care PC  Guided Care PC  UPMC Bedford Internal Medicine  Windber Medical Center  Diosdado Santiago MD  John M Wisniewski MD  Medical Group of Windber Inc  Medical Group of Windber Inc  Dinesh P Mathur MD  David C Johns DO  Clearfield Professional Group Ltd  Clearfield Professional Group Ltd  Clearfield Professional Group Ltd  Clearfield Professional Group Ltd  Jyothi K Gella MD  Alleghenies Independent Physicians Inc  Phillip Turco MD  Broad Street Reg Care Ctr  Cardiovascular Care PC  Thomas R Ellenberger MD PC  Digestive Health Physicians  Stephen J Matse DO  Harry H Pote MD  William F Pruchnic MD  George Pueblitz MD  Conemaugh Medical Center Internal Medicine  Balkissoon Maharajh MD  Conemaugh Medical Center Internal Medicine  Conemaugh Medical Center Internal Medicine  Valley Orthopaedics Inc  Drs Massoud & Patel  Drs Massoud & Patel  Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc  Vijay K Malhotra MD  Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc  Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc  William D Hauger MD  Blue & Green Medical  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Centre Medical & Surgical Associates  Hall, Guillard, Guillard & Associates  Hall, Guillard, Guillard & Associates  Geisinger Medical Group  Guy H Gerhart MD  Dubois Nephrology Associates  Fugate Medical Associates  DRMC Internal Medicine  DRMC Internal Medicine  DMC Gastroenterology  Edward J McVay MD  James A Scerbo MD  Jawahar N Suvarnakar MD  Martin L Chambers MD  Hussein Aboul-Hosn MD  Paul A Koberna MD  Kenneth K Fugate MD  Punxsutawney Medical Associates  Shenggao Han MD  Roberto Turnbull MD Altoona, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-08
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Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium)Read the Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium) article » What is hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?Hyponatremia refers to a lower-than-normal level of sodium in the blood. Sodium is essential for many body functions including the maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure, and normal function of the nervous system. Hyponatremia has sometimes been referred to as "water intoxication," especially when it is due to the consumption of excess water, for example during strenuous exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium. Sodium is the major positively charged ion (cation) in the fluid outside of cells of the body. The chemical notation for sodium is Na. When combined with chloride (Cl), the resulting substance is table salt (NaCl). The normal blood sodium level is 135 - 145 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L), or in international units, 135 - 145 millimoles/liter (mmol/L). Results may vary slightly among different laboratories.
What causes hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?A low sodium level in the blood may result from excess water or fluid in the body, diluting the normal amount of sodium so that the concentration appears low. This type of hyponatremia can be the result of chronic conditions such as kidney failure (when excess fluid cannot be efficiently excreted) and congestive heart failure, in which excess fluid accumulates in the body. SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone) is a disease whereby the body produces too much anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), resulting in retention of water in the body. Consuming excess water, for example during strenuous exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium, can also result in hyponatremia. Hyponatremia can also result when sodium is lost from the body or when both sodium and fluid are lost from the body, for example, during prolonged sweating and severe vomiting or diarrhea. Medical conditions that can sometimes be associate... Recommended Reading Related to Hyponatremia (Low Blood Sodium)What Is Heart Failure?Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. With heart failure, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming more stiff and thickened. This helps to keep the blood moving for a short while, but in time, the heart muscle walls weaken and are unable to pump as strongly. As a result, the kidneys often respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and sodium. If fluid builds up in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive heart failure is the term used to describe the condition. What Causes Heart Failure?Heart failure is caused b... Other Related Hyponatremia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Altoona
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