Emphysema Center - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Pulmonologist Doctors for EmphysemaType of Physician: Pulmonologist What is a Pulmonologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on diseases of the lungs and airways. The pulmonologist diagnoses and treats pneumonia, cancer, asthma, occupational diseases, sleep disorders, emphysema, and other complex disorders of the lungs. Pulmonologists evaluate lung function, examine the bronchial airways, and prescribe and monitor mechanical ventilation. Many pulmonary disease experts are also expert in critical care. Specialty: Pulmonary Disease Common Name: Lung Doctor Pulmonologist Doctors in Alexandria * Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Francis R Sappington MD  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Annamma J Jacob MD  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  DiPinto & DeSouza MDs  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Inova Transplant Center  Inova Transplant Center  Inova Transplant Center  Anil Verma MD  Eyad Abu-Hamda MD  Mahadevappa K Hunasikatti MD FCCP  Vienna Family Medicine  Virginia Pulmonary Associates PC  Drs Clinton & Robinson  Drs Clinton & Robinson  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Emergency USA  Pulmonary Physicians of Loudoun  Pulmonary Physicians of Loudoun  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Lansdowne Internal Medicine LLC  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  John Michaels MD  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Teekah & Tompkins MDs  Teekah & Tompkins MDs  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Carilion Medical Center Pediatric Specialty Clinic Alexandria, VirginiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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EmphysemaIntroduction to emphysemaThe lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that are primarily responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the blood. The lung is composed of clusters of small air sacs (alveoli) divided by thin, elastic walls or membranes. Capillaries, the tiniest of blood vessels, run within these walls between the alveoli and allow blood and air to come near each other. The distance between the air in the lungs and the blood in the capillaries is very small, and allows molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide to transfer across the membranes. Air reaches the alveoli via the bronchial tree. The trachea splits into the right and left mainstem bronchi, which branch further into bronchioles and finally ends in the alveolar air sacs. When we breathe in, air enters the lung and the alveoli expand. Oxygen is transferred onto hemoglobin molecules in the red blood cells to be transported to the rest of the body for use. As oxygen attaches to the red blood cell, carbon dioxide, the waste product of metabolism, detaches and crosses into the alveoli to be exhaled. When we breathe out, the alveoli get squeezed by the elasticity in their walls and air is pushed out of the lungs.
What is emphysema?Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lung(s) and occurs when the alveolar walls are destroyed along with the capillary blood vessels that run within them. This lessens the total area within the lung where blood and air can come together, limiting the potential for oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer. In early emphysema, there is associated inflammation of the small airways or bronchioles that limits the amount of air that can flow to the alveoli. In more severe emphysema, there is also loss of elasticity in the alveolar walls that have not been destroyed. When the patient breathes out, th... Recommended Reading Related to EmphysemaWhat 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 Emphysema ArticlesEmergency Contact for Alexandria
Nearby Alexandria Hospitals *The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Inova Alexandria Hospital Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Fort Washington Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington The George Washington University Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Dominion Hospital Georgetown University Hospital Howard University Hospital United Medical Center Children's National Medical Center National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Psychiatric Institute of Washington The HSC Pediatric Center Providence Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital National Institutes of Health Holy Cross Hospital Suburban Hospital Doctors Community Hospital Potomac Hospital Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Civista Medical Center Reston Hospital Center Laurel Regional Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Prince William Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Calvert Memorial Hospital Howard County General Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Anne Arundel Medical Center Baltimore Washington Medical Center Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City 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. |
Suggested Reading on Emphysema by Our Doctors
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