Emphysema Center - Galveston, TX
Galveston 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 Galveston * University of Texas Hospital Pulmonary Disease  University of Texas Hospital Pulmonary Disease  University of Texas Hospital Pulmonary Disease  Mainland Pulmonary Associates  Mainland Pulmonary Associates  Clear Lake Pulmonary  Clear Lake Pulmonary  Bay Area Pulmonary Disease  Bay Area Pulmonary Disease  Houston Pulmonary Medicine  Houston Pulmonary Medicine  Houston Pulmonary Medicine  Houston Pulmonary Medicine  Houston Pulmonary Medicine  Farouk Barbandi MD  Southeast Houston Cardiology  Pasadena Pulmonary  Pasadena Pulmonary  The Lung and Asthma Clinic  Julio Shahar MD  Sanjay Aggarwal MD PA  Rolando E Rumbaut MD PH D  Zimmerman Medical Clinic  Houston Pulmonary Diagnostics  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center  UT MD Anderson Cancer Center  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Dr Solis Practice  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  Respiratory Consultants of Houston PA  J Gregorio Casar MD  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  Kelsey-Seybold Clinic St Lukes Medical Tower 1900  Kelsey-Seybold Clinic St Lukes Medical Tower 1900  The Lung and Asthma Clinic  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  J Mario Gonzalez MD  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  Kelsey-Seybold Clinic St Lukes Medical Tower 1900  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  Kelsey-Seybold Clinic St Lukes Medical Tower 1900  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  William H Obenour Jr. MD  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  UT Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders Clinic  Alexander N Stadnyk MD  Baylor College of Medicine Pulmonary Critical Care  Baylor College of Medicine Pulmonary Critical Care  Baylor College of Medicine Pulmonary Critical Care  Baylor College of Medicine Pulmonary Critical Care  Baylor College of Medicine Pulmonary Critical Care  Baylor College of Medicine Pulmonary Critical Care  Edilberto M Bautista MD  Balchander Rao MD  Tehmina Badar & Divina M Tuazon MDs  Tehmina Badar & Divina M Tuazon MDs  Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital  Houston Chest Internists  Houston Chest Internists  Pankaj K Shah MD  Kris Bhat MD  Northeastern Respiratory Consultants  Northeastern Respiratory Consultants  Texas Lung Institute & Texas Occupational Medicine  Daria B Lee MD  Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Shahid Mallick MD PA  Bhadresh Shah MD PA  Bhadresh Shah MD PA  Medical Chest Associates PA  Medical Chest Associates PA  Thomas McGowan MD  Medical Chest Associates PA  West Houston Lung Center PA  Abdul H Khan MD  John H Smith MD  Anatoli N Krasko MD  Memorial Clinical Associates  Memorial Clinical Associates  Respiratory Center North Houston  Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Specialists  Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Specialists  Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Specialists  Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Specialists  Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Specialists  Anjana N Shah MD PA  Uma Sukhavasi MD & Sambasiva Sukhavasi MD  Southeast Texas Pulmonary  Southeast Texas Pulmonary  Southeast Texas Pulmonary  Medical Colleagues of Texas  Willy Pezzia MD PA  Arsenio R Martin MD Galveston, TexasUpcoming 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 Galveston
Nearby Galveston Hospitals *Shriners Hospital Galveston University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Mainland Medical Center CHRISTUS St John Hospital Clear Lake Regional Medical Center Clear Lake Rehabilitation Hospital Cornerstone Hospital of Houston at Clearlake Triumph Hospital Clear Lake Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Alexander Campus Triumph Hospital Baytown Bayside Community Hospital Vista Medical Center Hospital of America Bayshore Medical Center San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Garth Rd 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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Pneumonia
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Chronic Cough
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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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Lung Anatomy
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Secondhand Smoke
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Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Colds
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