Emphysema Center - Florissant, MO
Florissant 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 Florissant * DePaul Medical Group at Roy Johnson Medical Center  Lung Care Specialists  Pulmonary Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants  SSM DePaul Medical Group Northway Internists  Pulmonary Disease Consultants Inc  SSM DePaul Medical Group Northway Internists  Washington University Lung Center  Midwest Chest Consultants  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Midwest Chest Consultants  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Midwest Chest Consultants  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Washington University Lung Center  Pulmonary Diagnostic Services  Nguyet M Nguyen MD  Richard E Parcinski DO FCCP LLC  Maryland Medical Group  Care Clinical Research  Caduceus Corp  Korgi V Hegde MD  Veterans Affairs Medical Center  St Louis University Hospital Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine  St Louis University Hospital Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine  St Louis University Hospital Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine  Advantage Pulmonary PC  Pulmonary Care of E Missouri  Pulmonary Care of E Missouri  Mid-West Pulmonary Specialists LLC  Mitchell Botney MD  Mitchell Botney MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine LLC  Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine LLC  Joseph M Seria MD  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Cardio Pulmonary Associates  Midwest Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Kirk Flury MD  Ahmareen Khan MD  Caduceus Corp  Caduceus Corp  Intermed Medical Consultants  Intermed Medical Consultants  Intermed Medical Consultants  Intermed Medical Consultants  Intermed Medical Consultants  Intermed Medical Consultants  Assoc's in Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, Inc  Assoc's in Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, Inc  Thoracic & Critical Care Medicine  Thoracic & Critical Care Medicine  Thoracic & Critical Care Medicine  Ste Genevieve Family Health Ctr Florissant, MissouriUpcoming 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 Florissant
Nearby Florissant Hospitals *Northwest HealthCare Christian Hospital NE SSM DePaul Health Center Ranken Jordan Pediatric Rehabilitation Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital SSM St Joseph Health Center Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center Kindred Hospital St Louis St Clare's Hospital SSM Rehab SSM St Mary's Health Center Barnes-Jewish Hospital North Campus Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital Forest Park Community Hospital Select Specialty Hospital St Louis Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis St Louis Children's Hospital St Anthony's Health Center Gateway Regional Medical Center St Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division Alton Memorial Hospital St John's Mercy Medical Center Shriners Hospital for Children Saint Louis University Hospital Missouri Baptist Medical Center SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center Barnes-Jewish St Peter's Hospital St Luke's Hospital Dubuis Hospital of St Louis St John's Urgent Care Center Saint Peters Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital St John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital St Alexius Hospital Broadway Campus Des Peres Hospital Center Pointe Hospital St Luke's Urgent Care Center in St Charles Touchette Regional Hospital St Luke's Urgent Care Center on Clarkson Road St Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks Kindred Hospital St Anthony's St Anthony's Medical Center SSM St Clare Health Center St John's Mercy Urgent Care Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center in Fenton Anderson Hospital Jersey Community Hospital Progress West HealthCare Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center at WingHaven Memorial Hospital Belleville SSM St Joseph Hospital West St Elizabeth's Hospital Belleville SSM St Joseph Health Center Wentzville Community Memorial 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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Nicotine
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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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