Emphysema Center - Fort Pierce, FL
Fort Pierce 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 Pierce * Perry R Lloyd III MD  Kamlesh P Pandya MD  Drs Manjula & Ramesh Nayyar  Cardiopulmonary Associates of The Treasure Coast PA  Heart & Family Health Institute  John S Suen & Michael P Tonner MDs  John S Suen & Michael P Tonner MDs  Michele S Maholtz MD  Martin Memorial Medical Group  Martin Memorial Medical Group  Martin Memorial Medical Group  Devang B Patel MD  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Michael A Layton MD FCCP  Maged A Mehanni MD  Arif Shakoor MD  Kenneth J Fuquay MD  The Lung Institute of Palm Beach  The Lung Institute of Palm Beach  Jose De Olazabal MD  Joseph A Giaimo DO  VA Medical Center  Medical Associates of Brevard  Atlantic Respiratory Physicians  Atlantic Respiratory Physicians  MIMA Pulmonary  MIMA Pulmonary  MIMA Pulmonary  MIMA Pulmonary  Pulmonary Specialists of The Palm Beaches  Pulmonary Specialists of The Palm Beaches  Craig Altus MD  Allen Rosen MD  Swie H The MD  Florida Acute Care Specialists  Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches Pulmonary  Intensive Care Consortium  Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches Pulmonary  Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches Pulmonary  Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches Pulmonary  Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches Pulmonary  Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches Pulmonary  Brevard VA Outpatient Clinic  Pulmonology & Sleep Center  Brevard Pulmonary Specialists PA  Brevard Pulmonary Specialists PA  Nevine M Carp MD  Pulmonary Specialists of Boynton Beach  Pulmonary Specialists of Boynton Beach  David O Kateb MD  Bruce Miles Berkowitz MD  Jeffrey M Berman MD  Baum and Palumbo MDs  Samuel Jacobson MD PA  Baum and Palumbo MDs  Drs Adelman Baron & Schreibman  Drs Adelman Baron & Schreibman  Drs Adelman Baron & Schreibman  Pediatric Pulmonary & Allergy Associates PA  Michael S Falkowitz MD  Broward Institute for Respiratory  Broward Institute for Respiratory  Steven H Foster & Jeffrey C Wolkowicz MDs PA  Steven H Foster & Jeffrey C Wolkowicz MDs PA  Central Medical Group PA  Heartland Pulmonary & Critical  Heartland Pulmonary & Critical  Heartland Pulmonary & Critical  Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists of Florida PA  Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists of Florida PA  Lal K Bhagchandani MD  Alan J Sackin MD  Edward D Michaelson MD  George P Azar Jr. Md  Pulmonary Disease Specialists PA  Pulmonary Disease Specialists PA  Pulmonary Disease Specialists PA  Pulmonary Disease Specialists PA  Pulmonary Disease Specialists PA  Healthnet of Central Florida  Coopersmith Scott & Schwartz MDs  Coopersmith Scott & Schwartz MDs  Amjad Munim MD  Juan J Perez & Richardo Rivera-Morales MDs  Juan J Perez & Richardo Rivera-Morales MDs  G David Onstad MD PA  Holy Cross Medical Group  Holy Cross Medical Group  Harvey S Kleiner DO & Armando A Fernandez MD  Marshall Brumer MD  Florida Institute of Health  Indian River Medical  Sunrise Medical Group  Medical Associates of Central Florida  Sandeep Jain MD  Heart & Lung Associates PA  Heart & Lung Associates PA  Florida Institute of Health Plantation Fort Pierce, FloridaUpcoming 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 Fort Pierce
Nearby Fort Pierce Hospitals *Lawnwood Pavilion Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute New Horizon's of the Treasure Coast Port St Lucie Hospital St Lucie Medical Center Indian River Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Treasure Coast Rehabilitation Hospital Martin Memorial Medical Center Martin Memorial Hospital South Sebastian River Medical Center Raulerson 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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