Emphysema Center - Aloha, OR
Aloha 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 Aloha * Drs Kelly & Byerly  Drs Kelly & Byerly  Legacy Pulmonary Clinic  Legacy Pulmonary Clinic  Legacy Pulmonary Clinic  Legacy Pulmonary Clinic  Legacy Pulmonary Clinic  Oregon Sleep Medicine Associates  Providence Medical Group Newberg  Kaiser Permanente Northwest  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  The Oregon Clinic Pulmonology  Keith L Ironside Jr. MD  Portland Lung Clinic  Clackamas Pulmonary Specialists  Portland Lung Clinic  Portland Lung Clinic  Kishore G Pathial MD FCCP PC  Salem Pulmonary Associates  The Corvallis Clinic Pulmonology  The Corvallis Clinic Sleep Medicine Clinic  The Corvallis Clinic Pulmonology  Oregon Lung Specialists Aloha, OregonUpcoming Local Events2012-05-27
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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 Aloha
Nearby Aloha Hospitals *Providence St Vincent Medical Center Tuality Community Hospital Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at OHSU Oregon Health & Science University Hospital Portland VA Medical Center Shriners Hospital for Children Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Oregon State Hospital Portland Tuality Forest Grove Hospital Providence Milwaukie Hospital Providence Portland Medical Center Providence Newberg Hospital Southwest Washington Medical Center Memorial Campus Adventist Medical Center Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center Southwest Washington Medical Center Mother Joseph Campus Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Willamette Valley Medical Center Silverton Hospital 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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Chronic Bronchitis
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Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
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Heart Failure
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Chagas Disease
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Secondhand Smoke
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