Emphysema Center - Aspen Hill, MD
Aspen Hill 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 Aspen Hill * Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Gita C Bakshi MD  Advanced Internal Medicine PC  Harold T Facen MD  Phillip W Poth MD  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Alan S Chanales MD  Pediatric Pulmonary & Asthma Center  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Washington Regional Cardiac Surgery PC  Washington Adventist Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Suresh Chandra Gupta MD  Gerardo Gacad MD  Revathy Murthy MD  Mai-Chi Nguyen MD PA  Louis E Steinberg MD  Fumikazu Kawakami MD  Gary A Kazlow MD & Associates  Warren & McClain MD Chartered  Drs Farrell & Schaefer  Drs Farrell & Schaefer  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Moti L Koul MD  Redjaee & Taleghani MDs  Roberto Depetris MD  Patel & Ramanan MDs  Patel & Ramanan MDs  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Malik A Rehman MD  Jay Gertenblith MD  Joseph H Miller MD  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  Maryland Lung Associates PA  Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  James J Benjamin MD PA  Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Elliott Gorbaty MD  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  David A Mishkin MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  David A Mishkin MD  David A Mishkin MD  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  David A Mishkin MD  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Internal Medicine Associates  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  Philip Wisotsky & Louis Kaufman MDs  Natvarlal Rajpara MD  Southern MD Pulmonary & Critical Care  Southern MD Pulmonary & Critical Care  Southern MD Pulmonary & Critical Care  United Doctors Medical Clinic  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Ko-Pen Wang MD  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care Aspen Hill, MarylandUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
2012-06-16
2012-06-16
2012-06-17
2012-06-17
2012-07-07
2012-08-05
2012-10-13
2012-10-28
2012-10-28
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 Aspen Hill
Nearby Aspen Hill Hospitals *Suburban Hospital Holy Cross Hospital National Institutes of Health Montgomery General Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington Sibley Memorial Hospital Providence Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center The HSC Pediatric Center Laurel Regional Hospital Children's National Medical Center Georgetown University Hospital Howard University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Doctors Community Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington Howard County General Hospital Dominion Hospital United Medical Center Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Reston Hospital Center Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Inova Alexandria Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Springfield Hospital Center Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Spring Grove Hospital Center Fort Washington Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Baltimore Washington Medical Center Northwest Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Kernan Hospital Saint Agnes Hospital Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Harbor Hospital Center Baltimore VA Medical Center University of Maryland Medical Center University Specialty Hospital Maryland General Hospital Mercy Medical Center Frederick Memorial Hospital Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Prince William Hospital Anne Arundel Medical Center Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital Kennedy Krieger Institute Johns Hopkins Hospital Union Memorial Hospital Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Potomac Hospital Sheppard Pratt Health System Greater Baltimore Medical Center Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland St Joseph Medical Center Carroll Hospital 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. |
Suggested Reading on Emphysema by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
23 articles-
Congestive Heart Failure
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. A poor blood supply resulting from congestive heart failure may cause the body's organ systems to fail, leading to a weakened heart muscle and fluid accumulation in the lungs and body tissue. There are many diseases that can impair pumping efficiency and symptoms of congestive heart failure including fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. Treatments include lifestyle modifications, medications, heart transplant, and therapy.
-
Pneumonia
- Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
-
Angina
- Angina is chest pain that is due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. Angina can be caused by coronary artery disease or spasm of the coronary arteries. EKG, exercise treadmill, stress echocardiography, stress thallium, and cardiac catheterization are important tests used in the diagnosis of angina.
-
Acute Bronchitis
- Bronchitis is a disease of the respiratory system in which the bronchial passages become inflamed. There are two types of bronchitis, acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute bronchitis include frequent cough with mucus, lack of energy, wheezing, and possible fever. Treatment may require medication such as bronchial inhalers and predinsone. Supportive treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms with fever reducers, cough suppressants, and rest. Treatment may be more aggressive in patients with pre-existing conditions such as empyema, COPD, or cigarette smoking.
-
Chronic Cough
- Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette smoking, GERD, postnasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependant upon the cause.
-
Polycythemia (High Red Blood Cell Count)
- Polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count) causes are either primary (aquired or genetic mutations) or secondary (diseases, conditions, high altitude). Treatment of polycythemia depends on the cause.
-
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a disorder that persistently obstructs bronchial airflow. COPD mainly involves three related conditions, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema. Symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath, frequent respiratory infections, wheezing, morning headaches, and pulmonary hypertension. Treatment of COPD is focused on the related condition(s).
-
Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
- Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are premature heartbeats originating from the ventricles of the heart. PVCs are premature because they occur before the regular heartbeat. There are many causes of premature ventricular contractions to include: heart attack, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, hypokalemia, hypoxia, medications, excess caffeine, drug abuse, and myocarditis.
-
Marfan Syndrome
- Marfan syndrome is hereditary condition affecting connective tissue. A person with Marfan syndrome may exhibit the following symptoms and characteristics: dislocation of one or both lenses of the eye; a protruding or indented breastbone; scoliosis; flat feet; aortic dilatation; dural ectasia; stretch marks; hernia; and lung collapse. Though there is no cure for Marfan syndrome, there are treatments that can minimize and sometimes prevent some complications.
-
Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pulmonary hypertension is an abnormal elevation of the pressure in the pulmonary circulation caused by the constriction of the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs. Shortness of breath and dizziness are symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. Treatment involves diuretics, blood thinners, calcium channel blockers, and using supplemental oxygen to increase blood oxygen levels.
-
Chronic Bronchitis
- Chronic bronchitis is a cough that occurs daily with production of sputum that lasts for at least three months, two years in a row. Causes of chronic bronchitis include cigarette smoking, inhaled irritants, and underlying disease processes (such as asthma, or congestive heart failure). Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Treatments include bronchodilators and steroids. Complications of chronic bronchitis include COPD and emphysema.
-
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are genetic disorders that include symptoms such as loose joints, tissue weakness, easy bruising, and skin that stretches easily. There are seven types of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes: Classical type, Hypermobility type, Vascular type, Kyphoscoliosis type, Arthrochalsia type, Dermatosparaxis type, and Tenascin-X Deficient type. Treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndromes depends on which symptoms are present.
-
Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
- Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
-
Bronchiectasis
- Bronchiectasis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes of the lung become damaged. Inflammation from infection or other causes destroys the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. Bronchiectasis is a form of COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis). There are three primary types of bronchiectasis: 1) cylindrical bronchiectasis; 2) saccular bronchiectasis; and 3) cystic bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis may also be acquired or congenital. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis are recurrent cough and sputum production. There is no cure for bronchiectasis. Treatment is often geared toward controlling the symptoms of bronchiectasis.
-
Smoker's Lung: Pathology Photo Essay
- Smoker's lung photo essay is a collection of pictures and microscopic slides of lung disease caused by cigarette smoking. Smoker's lung refers to the diseases and structural abnormalities in the lung caused by cigarette smoking.
-
Heart Failure
- Heart failure is caused by many conditions including coronary artery disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, and conditions that overwork the heart. Symptoms of heart failure include congested lungs, fluid and water retention, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, and rapid or irregular heartbeats.
-
Chagas Disease
- Chagas disease is an infection caused by the T. cruzi parasite. Symptoms of Chagas disease include rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and the Romaña sign. An ELISA test is used to diagnose Chagas disease. Treatment depends upon the phase of the disease and the patient's age.
-
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disorder that may cause liver and lung disease in adults. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, weight loss, respiratory infections, fatigue, vision abnormalities. Advanced lung disease from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency include emphysema. Liver damage from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency causes a swollen abdomen, swollen legs or feet, and jaundice.
-
Nicotine
- Nicotine is delivered to the brain through smoking, chewing, or sniffing tobacco. Nicotine is an addictive agent. Common names for nicotine products include smokes, cigs, butts, chew, dip, spit, or snuff. Habitual nicotine use leads to many debilitating medical conditions.
-
Asthma Complexities
- There are many unusual symptoms of asthma, including sighing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, chronic cough, recurrent walking pneumonia, and rapid breathing. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. These asthma complexities make it difficult to accurately diagnose and treat asthma.
-
Lung Anatomy
- The lungs are primarily responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the blood. Eliminating carbon dioxide from the blood is important, because as it builds up in the blood, headaches, drowsiness, coma, and eventually death may occur. The air we breathe in (inhalation) is warmed, humidified, and cleaned by the nose and the lungs.
-
Secondhand Smoke
- Secondhand smoke can cause illness and disease in nonsmokers. Some of these conditions include lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illnesses such as asthma, SIDS, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Learn how you can protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke exposure in the home environment and workplace.
-
Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Colds
- If you have a COPD such as emphysema, avoiding chronic bronchitis and colds is important to avoid a more severe respiratory infection such as pneumonia. Avoiding cigarette smoking, practice good hygeine, stay away from crowds, and alerting your healthcare provider if you have a sinus infection or cold or cough that becomes worse. Treatment options depend upon the severity of the emphysema, bronchitis, or cold combination.
-
Congestive Heart Failure
-
Medications
12 articles -
Procedures & Tests
4 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
3 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
3 articles -
Health News
20 articles -
Health Features
2 articles
