Emphysema Center - Dale City, VA
Dale City 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 Dale City * Drs Clinton & Robinson  Drs Clinton & Robinson  Virginia Pulmonary Associates PC  DiPinto & DeSouza MDs  Anil Verma MD  Emergency USA  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Inova Transplant Center  Inova Transplant Center  Inova Transplant Center  Eyad Abu-Hamda MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Mahadevappa K Hunasikatti MD FCCP  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Vienna Family Medicine  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Francis R Sappington MD  Annamma J Jacob MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Medical Associates of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Lansdowne Internal Medicine LLC  Pulmonary Physicians of Loudoun  Pulmonary Physicians of Loudoun  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  John Michaels MD  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Winchester Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Assoc  Teekah & Tompkins MDs  Teekah & Tompkins MDs  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Carilion Medical Center Pediatric Specialty Clinic  Pulmonary Allergy Clinic  William R Hammond MD  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Dale City, VirginiaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-27
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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 Dale City
Nearby Dale City Hospitals *Potomac Hospital Prince William Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Inova Alexandria Hospital Dominion Hospital Fort Washington Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Civista Medical Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Reston Hospital Center Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Georgetown University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital Mary Washington Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington The Specialty Hospital of Washington Howard University Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Children's National Medical Center Fauquier Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center United Medical Center Providence Hospital National Institutes of Health The HSC Pediatric Center Suburban Hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Washington Adventist Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Holy Cross Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Doctors Community Hospital Graydon Manor Behavioral Health 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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Polycythemia (High Red Blood Cell Count)
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
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Marfan Syndrome
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Pulmonary Hypertension
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Chronic Bronchitis
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Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
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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.
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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
- 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.
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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.
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Congestive Heart Failure
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Medications
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