Emphysema Center - Altadena, CA
Altadena 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 Altadena * Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Garo Darian MD  Hargurmeet Sandhu MD  Gilbert Gurevitch Khalili & Patel MD  Gilbert Gurevitch Khalili & Patel MD  Earl S Young MD APC  Consultants for Lung Disease  Foothill Pulmonary & Critical Care  Kamalakar Rambhatla MD  Kamalakar Rambhatla MD  Shalom Medical Corporation  Reliant Pulmonary  Reliant Pulmonary  Reliant Pulmonary  Health Care Partners Monterey Park  Zulifigar Ahmed MD  Kin C Wong MD APC  Eli E Hendel MD  J Sue Johnson MD  J Sue Johnson MD  USC Internal Medicine  Joel E Arroyo MD  Barlow Pulmonary Medical Group  Barlow Pulmonary Medical Group  Barlow Pulmonary Medical Group  City of Hope National Medical Center Pulmonary & Critical Care  City of Hope National Medical Center Pulmonary & Critical Care  City of Hope National Medical Center Pulmonary & Critical Care  City of Hope National Medical Center Pulmonary & Critical Care  City of Hope National Medical Center Pulmonary & Critical Care  B Waraich MD  James P Feloney MD  Alan W Rubin MD  Sovaris Inc  Alan C Jasper MD  Alan C Jasper MD  Alan C Jasper MD  Sean Xie MD  Steven M Gitlin MD  Consultants for Lung Disease  Tower Pulmonary Associates  Mayur C Patel & Shailesh S Patel MDs  Mayur C Patel & Shailesh S Patel MDs  Daniel K Dea MD  Datar Sodhi MD  Internal & Pulmonary Medical Assoc  John & Rosa Cu MDs  Internal & Pulmonary Medical Assoc  Y Kristy Kim MD  Daniel Suarez MD  Whitter Pulmonary & Critical Care  Whitter Pulmonary & Critical Care  Whitter Pulmonary & Critical Care  Whitter Pulmonary & Critical Care  W W Sadowinski MD  Mukesh Shah MD  Mark J Buchfuhrer MD  Vijay Kamdar MD  Caremore Medical Group  Magan Medical Clinic  Ranch Los Amigos National Rehab  Gary Zagelbaum MD  Ashok Raheja MD  M. Ali Ansari, M.D., INC  Richard G Johnson MD Inc  Richard G Johnson MD Inc  Richard G Johnson MD Inc  Bergman Medical Group  Theresa C Henderson MD  Western Pulmonary Associates Medical Group  Western Pulmonary Associates Medical Group  Western Pulmonary Associates Medical Group  Amanuel Sima MD  Abrahamian Medical Center  Wachtel Wolfe & Artal MDs  Cedars-Sinai Pulmonology  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Pulmonology  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Pulmonology  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Pulmonology  Corday Medical Group  Wachtel Wolfe & Artal MDs  Wachtel Wolfe & Artal MDs  Synergy Hematology Oncology Medical Associates Inc  David M Kelley MD  Gordon Miller & Schroeder MDs  Gordon Miller & Schroeder MDs  Ralph Potkin MD  Best Healthcare Altadena, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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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 Altadena
Nearby Altadena Hospitals *Huntington Hospital Aurora Las Encinas Hospital Verdugo Hills Hospital San Gabriel Valley Medical Center Glendale Adventist Medical Center Methodist Hospital Alhambra Hospital Medical Center City of Angels Medical Center Ingleside Campus Garfield Medical Center Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center BHC Alhambra Hospital Monterey Park Hospital USC University Hospital USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center City of Hope National Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center Barlow Respiratory Hospital Pacific Alliance Medical Center Kaiser Mental Health Center White Memorial Medical Center Greater El Monte Community Hospital Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Temple Community Hospital St Vincent Medical Center Beverly Hospital Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Baldwin Park Good Samaritan Hospital Los Angeles Community Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles Vista Specialty Hospital of San Gabriel Valley Hollywood Community Hospital California Hospital Medical Center Doctor's Hospital West Covina Orthopaedic Medical Center Citrus Valley Medical Center Queen of the Valley Campus Kindred Hospital San Gabriel Valley Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Community Hospital of Huntington Park VA Greater Los Angeles HealthCare System Citrus Valley Medical Center Inter Community Campus Foothill Presbyterian Hospital East Valley Hospital Medical Center Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Olympia Medical Center Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Miracle Mile Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Aurora Charter Oak Hospital Downey Regional Medical Center Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center Whittier Hospital Medical Center Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center Hollywood Community Hospital of Van Nuys San Dimas Community Hospital St Francis Medical Center Sherman Oaks Hospital Metropolitan State Hospital Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center Mission Community Hospital Brotman Medical Center Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Valley Presbyterian Hospital Martin Luther King Jr MAC Service Center Norwalk Community Hospital Kindred Hospital Los Angeles Kindred Hospital La Mirada Ronald Reagan UCLA 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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