Emphysema Center - Fort Myers, FL
Fort Myers 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 Fort Myers * Pulmonary Disease Associates  Pulmonary Disease Associates  Internal Medicine Associates  Internal Medicine Associates  Howard Eisenberg MD  Internal Medicine Associates  Allergy Sleep & Lung Care PA  Sunil N Lalla MD  Healthpark Pulmonary Specialist  Center for Sleep & Pulmonary Medicine  Carlos E Maas MD  Moopen & Wei MDs  Sleep Disorders Center of Southwest Florida  Sleep Disorders Center of Southwest Florida  Carlos E Maas MD  Jose R Marquina MD  Anchor Health Centers Pulmonary & Critical Care  Anchor Health Centers Pulmonary & Critical Care  Anchor Health Centers Pulmonary & Critical Care  Anchor Health Centers Pulmonary & Critical Care  Anchor Health Centers Pulmonary & Critical Care  Anchor Health Centers Pulmonary & Critical Care  Anchor Health Centers Pulmonary & Critical Care  Douglas Harrington DO & Richard M Roland MD  Douglas Harrington DO & Richard M Roland MD  Everett Alsbrook MD  Gulf Coast Pulmonary Associates  Gulf Coast Pulmonary Associates  Aziz Junagadhwalla MD  Pulmonary Medicine Of Venice  Gulf Coast Medical Specialists  Suncoast Lung Center  Suncoast Lung Center  Bradenton Pulmonary Consultants  Lung Associates of Sarasota  Lung Associates of Sarasota  Lung Associates of Sarasota  Lung Associates of Sarasota  Lung Associates of Sarasota  Lung Associates of Sarasota  Lung Associates of Sarasota  Heartland Pulmonary & Critical  Heartland Pulmonary & Critical  Heartland Pulmonary & Critical  Brian E Angsten MD  Lung Associates PA  Horacio Argeles MD  Karen M Stroh MD PA  John Peters DO  The Lung Center  The Lung Center  The Lung Center  Pulmonary Associates Of Brandon  Pulmonary Associates Of Brandon  Pulmonary Associates Of Brandon  Pulmonary Associates Of Brandon  Arif Shakoor MD  Maged A Mehanni MD  Medical Associates of Central Florida  Perwaiz Rahim MD PA  Perwaiz Rahim MD PA  Jonathan P Axel MD PLLC  Bay Area Pulmonary Associates  Tampa Bay Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Tampa Bay Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Pulmonary Associates Of Brandon  Pulmonary/Critical Care Consultants  Pulmonary/Critical Care Consultants  Clark & Daughtrey Medical Group PA  Clark & Daughtrey Medical Group PA  Clark & Daughtrey Medical Group PA  Clark & Daughtrey Medical Group PA  Clark & Daughtrey Medical Group PA  Coastal Pulmonary & Critical Care  Coastal Pulmonary & Critical Care  Coastal Pulmonary & Critical Care  Coastal Pulmonary & Critical Care  Pulmonary and Sleep of Tampa Bay  Michael M Newan MD  Bond Clinic PA  Bond Clinic PA  Bond Clinic PA  Bay Area Pulmonary PA  USF Physicians Group Pulmonary Medicine  Bruce M Schnapf DO  USF Physicians Group Pulmonary Medicine  Bruce M Schnapf DO  Watson Clinic LLP  Watson Clinic LLP  Watson Clinic LLP  North East Family Medicine  Pulmonary Associates of Tampa  Stephen M Kreitzer MD  Himanshu Chandarana MD  David H Silverstein MD Fort Myers, FloridaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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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 Fort Myers
Nearby Fort Myers Hospitals *Lee Memorial Hospital Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center Cape Coral Hospital Gulf Coast Hospital HealthPark Medical Center Lehigh Regional Medical Center Riverside Behavioral Center Charlotte Regional Medical Center NCH Healthcare System North Collier Hospital Fawcett Memorial Hospital Peace River Medical Center Physicians Regional Medical Center Pine Ridge Rd NCH Healthcare System Naples Community 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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