Emphysema Center - Bristol, CT
Bristol 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 Bristol * Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Pacifico Flores Jr. MD  Pulmonary Associates  Jegathesan & Jegathesan MDs  Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Medicine  Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Medicine  Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Medicine  Joseph A Harrison MD  Grove Hill Medical Center Pulmonology  New Britain General Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Grove Hill Medical Center Pulmonology  Waterbury Pulmonary  Leslie B Lindenberg MD  Waterbury Pulmonary  Waterbury Pulmonary  Waterbury Pulmonary  Waterbury Pulmonary  Franklin Medical Group PC  Franklin Medical Group PC  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Giosa & Brown Pulmonary Associates  Giosa & Brown Pulmonary Associates  Richard A Smith MD  Richard Krinsky MD  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Adiraju Bayan Hashim Jha & Yekta MDs  Margaret Woznica MD & Zbigniew Woznica MD  Hartford Hospital Clinical Research Center Inc  Capitol Chest Physicians  Asthma Center Connecticut Children's Medical Center  CT Medical Group  Jacob S Loke MD  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  Madhu S Gowda MD  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Pulmonary Care PC  Chapel Pulmonary & Critical Care  Pulmonary Care PC  Carlos S Schweitzer MD  Pulmonary Specialties  Pulmonary Specialties  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Yale Occupational & Environmental Medicine  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Lung Associates of Connecticut  Allergy & Pulmonary Specialists PC  Internal Medicine Of Milford PC  Medical Group of Milford  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates PC  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates PC Bristol, ConnecticutUpcoming Local Events2012-06-17
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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 Bristol
Nearby Bristol Hospitals *Bristol Hospital Hospital for Special Care The Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain Campus University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus St Mary's Hospital Waterbury Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System Newington Campus MidState Medical Center Cedarcrest Hospital Charlotte Hungerford Hospital The Hospital at Hebrew Healthcare St Francis Hospital & Medical Center Connecticut Children's Medical Center Hartford Hospital Institute of Living Hartford Hospital Gaylord Hospital Veterans Home & Hospital Rocky Hill Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital St Francis Care Hospital Mount Sinai Campus Masonic Healthcare Center Middlesex Hospital Connecticut Valley Hospital Riverview Hospital for Children & Youth Rushford Center Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care Manchester Memorial Hospital Griffin Hospital New Milford Hospital Hospital of St Raphael Connecticut Mental Health Center Yale-New Haven Hospital Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus Rockville General Hospital Sharon Hospital Danbury Hospital Noble Hospital Milford Hospital Western Massachusetts 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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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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