Emphysema Center - Bellevue, WA
Bellevue 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 Bellevue * Overlake Internal Medicine Associates  Overlake Internal Medicine Associates  Overlake Internal Medicine Associates  Eastside Pulmonary Associates  Michael Eulberg MD  Occupational & Environmental Clinic  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Swedish Medical Center Adult Hospitalist  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UW Medical Center Hospital Services  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UW Medical Center Hospital Services  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Pacific Medical Centers  Pacific Medical Centers  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center  Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  John T Boyd MD  Southlake Clinic  Southlake Clinic  Southlake Clinic  Southlake Clinic  Northwest Pulmonary Associates  Northwest Pulmonary Associates  Northwest Pulmonary Associates  Swedish Physicians West Seattle Clinic  Robert L Clark MD  Fredric Jackson MD  Stevens Pulmonary  Stevens Pulmonary  Everett Clinic Main Campus  Everett Clinic Main Campus  Everett Clinic Main Campus  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  The Doctors Clinic East Bremerton  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Kitsap Chest Consultants  Kitsap Chest Consultants  Multi Care Pulmonary Clinic  Multi Care Pulmonary Clinic  Skagit Valley Medical Center  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  Olympia Sleep Laboratory  Olympic Medical Physicians  Northstar Associates PLLC  Peace Health Medical Group  Peace Health Medical Group Bellevue, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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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 Bellevue
Nearby Bellevue Hospitals *Overlake Hospital Medical Center Group Health Eastside Hospital Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center Group Health Central Hospital Swedish Medical Center First Hill Campus University of Washington Medical Center Harborview Medical Center Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle Cancer Care Alliance VA Puget Sound Health Care System Evergreen Hospital Medical Center Fairfax Hospital Kindred Hospital Seattle Highline Medical Center Specialty Campus The Regional Hospital for Respiratory & Complex Care Swedish Medical Center Ballard Campus Northwest Hospital & Medical Center West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital Schick Shadel Hospital Valley Medical Center Highline Medical Center Main Campus Stevens Hospital Valley General Hospital Harrison Medical Center Auburn Regional Medical Center St Francis Hospital Providence Everett Medical Center Pacific Campus Providence Everett Medical Center Colby Campus Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center Tacoma General Hospital St Joseph Medical Center Allenmore Hospital Pierce County Human Services Enumclaw Regional Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital & Community Healthcare Saint Clare 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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Congestive Heart Failure
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Pneumonia
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Chronic Cough
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Pulmonary Hypertension
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Chronic Bronchitis
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Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
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Bronchiectasis
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Heart Failure
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Chagas Disease
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Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
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Lung Anatomy
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Secondhand Smoke
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Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Colds
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