Emphysema Center - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley 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 Berkeley * Berkeley Pulmonary & Critical Care Medical Group  Berkeley Pulmonary & Critical Care Medical Group  Berkeley Pulmonary & Critical Care Medical Group  Berkeley Pulmonary & Critical Care Medical Group  Berkeley Pulmonary & Critical Care Medical Group  Berkeley Pulmonary & Critical Care Medical Group  Berkeley Pulmonary & Critical Care Medical Group  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Revels Cayton MD  Richard Nusser MD Inc  Bay Area Pulmonary Medical  Bay Area Pulmonary Medical  Bay Area Pulmonary Medical  Jerrold A Kram MD  William S Lowery MD  East Bay Pulmonary Medical Group  East Bay Pulmonary Medical Group  East Bay Pulmonary Medical Group  East Bay Pulmonary Medical Group  Alliance Medical Group Inc  Kenneth D Chan MD  Crawford Chung MD  Fred B Hom MD  UCSF Pulmonology & Critical Care Medicine  UCSF Pulmonology & Critical Care Medicine  UCSF Pulmonology & Critical Care Medicine  San Francisco General Hospital  San Francisco Critical Care Medical Group Inc  San Francisco Critical Care Medical Group Inc  Frank M Delen MD  Ronald B Elkin MD  San Francisco Critical Care Medical Group Inc  San Francisco Critical Care Medical Group Inc  Gerald B Levine MD  David M Claman MD  Ratnasothy Rajah MD  T Craig Williams MD  Neal Miyasaki MD  Anthony Cosentino MD  Daniel M Raybin MD  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  David J Erle MD  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  Talmadge E King MD  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Pulmonary Medicine  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  UCSF Chest & Allergy Clinic  Muir Pulmonary & Critical Care  Muir Pulmonary & Critical Care  Respiratory Medical Group  Respiratory Medical Group  Respiratory Medical Group  Respiratory Medical Group  UCSF VA Medical Center  Laurence Athos MD  UCSF VA Medical Center  David C Budson MD  Diablo Pulmonary Medical Group  Diablo Pulmonary Medical Group  Diablo Pulmonary Medical Group  Jorge A Salazar-Suero MD  Diablo Pulmonary Medical Group  Peter Brion MD  Robert C Ang MD  Peninsula Pulmonary Medical  Dale E Kocienski MD  Peninsula Pulmonary Medical  Peninsula Pulmonary Medical  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Pulmonary & Infectious Disease  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Pulmonary & Infectious Disease  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Pulmonary & Infectious Disease  Sammy T Hung MD  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Medicine & Critical Care Medicine Inc  Steven Machtinger MD  Pulmonary Medicine & Critical Care Medicine Inc  Redwood Sleep Center  Redwood Pulmonary Medical Associates  Redwood Pulmonary Medical Associates  Stanford Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic  Sigal A Tene MD  Palo Alto Medical Foundation Dublin Center  Mowry Medical Group Inc  Tri Valley Medical Associates  Tri Valley Medical Associates Berkeley, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 Berkeley
Nearby Berkeley Hospitals *Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo Alameda Hospital Chinese Hospital Saint Francis Memorial Hospital California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus San Francisco General Hospital UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus California Pacific Medical Center California Campus California Pacific Medical Center East Campus Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center St Luke's Hospital St Mary's Medical Center Contra Costa Regional Medical Center VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus San Leandro Hospital Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center John George Psychiatric Pavilion Alameda County Medical Center Fairmont Campus San Francisco VA Medical Center John Muir Behavioral Health Center John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus Marin General Hospital Eden Medical Center Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital Seton Medical Center St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center San Ramon Regional Medical Center Sutter Solano Medical Center St Rose Hospital Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center Mills Hospital Mills-Peninsula Health Services Novato Community Hospital San Mateo Medical Center ValleyCare Health System Pleasanton Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center Sutter Delta Medical Center Washington Hospital Sequoia Hospital Seton Medical Center Coastside Fremont Hospital Telecare Solano Psychiatric Health Facility Napa State Hospital Menlo Park Surgical Hospital NorthBay Medical Center Valley Memorial Hospital Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford Hospital & Clinics Sonoma Valley Hospital Queen of the Valley Medical Center Livermore Division of the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System VA Palo Alto Health Care System Petaluma Valley 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
- 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.
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Pneumonia
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Angina
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Acute Bronchitis
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Chronic Cough
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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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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Smoker's Lung: Pathology Photo Essay
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Heart Failure
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Chagas Disease
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Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
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Nicotine
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Asthma Complexities
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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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