Emphysema Center - Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville * Lafayette Clinic PA  Fayetteville Pulmonary Critical Care  Cape Fear Pulmonary Associates  Cape Fear Pulmonary Associates  Medical Specialists Clinic  UNC Sanford Specialty Clinic  Pinehurst Medical Clinic Inc  Pinehurst Medical Clinic Inc  Carolina Pulmonary Medicine  West Raleigh Internal Medicine PA  Timothy B Hart MD PA  Wake Internal Medicine Consultants Inc  Wake Internal Medicine Consultants Inc  WakeMed Faculty Physicians Hospitalist Service  Piedmont Internal Medicine Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases PA  Raleigh Pulmonary & Allergy Consultants PLLC  Raleigh Pulmonary & Allergy Consultants PLLC  Raleigh Pulmonary & Allergy Consultants PLLC  Raleigh Pulmonary & Allergy Consultants PLLC  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Chapel Hill Pediatric Pulmonology  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Chapel Hill Pediatric Pulmonology  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Chapel Hill Pediatric Pulmonology  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Chapel Hill Pediatric Pulmonology  UNC Chapel Hill Pediatric Pulmonology  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Chapel Hill Pediatric Pulmonology  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  UNC Hospital Division of Pulmonary Medicine  Neil R MacIntyre MD  Claude A Piantadosi MD  Michael L Russell MD  R Carl Britt MD  Duke University Medical Center  Eastern North Carolina Medical Group PLLC  Eastern Medical Associates  Wayne Heart & Internal Medical Associates PA  Eastern Medical Associates  Duke Asthma Allergy & Airway System Pulmonary Dept  Wilson Pulmonary & Internal Medicine PA  Nova Medical Associates  Kernodle Clinic West  LeBauer Medical Center Allergy & Asthma  Perry-Medders Medical Group  Wilmington Health Associates Pulmonary Department  Wilmington Health Associates Pulmonary Department  Kinston Pulmonary  Eastern Carolina Physicians PA  Albemarle Pulmonary  George Kilpatrick Jr. MD  Nash Internal Medicine  LeBauer HealthCare Main  LeBauer HealthCare Main  LeBauer HealthCare Main  LeBauer HealthCare Main  LeBauer HealthCare Main  LeBauer HealthCare Main Fayetteville, North CarolinaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 Fayetteville
Nearby Fayetteville Hospitals *Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital Fayetteville VA Medical Center Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Behavioral Health Care Cape Fear Health System Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital Southeastern Regional Medical Center St Joseph of the Pines Health Center Sampson Regional Medical Center Bladen County Hospital Central Carolina Hospital FirstHealth Moore Regional 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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Chronic Bronchitis
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Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
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Bronchiectasis
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Secondhand Smoke
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