Emphysema Center - Germantown, MD
Germantown 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 Germantown * Pediatric Pulmonary & Asthma Center  Pulmonologists PC  Alan S Chanales MD  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Physicians Associates Pulmonary Medicine  Advanced Internal Medicine PC  Gita C Bakshi MD  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Pulmonologists PC  Harold T Facen MD  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Drs Banadori Oser Seidelman & Tauber  Internal Medicine Associates  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Drs Langevin Larsen Hamm & Cohen PC  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Phillip W Poth MD  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Frederick Medical & Pulmonary  Washington Regional Cardiac Surgery PC  Washington Adventist Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Gary A Kazlow MD & Associates  Mai-Chi Nguyen MD PA  Drs Farrell & Schaefer  Drs Farrell & Schaefer  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates  Suresh Chandra Gupta MD  Gerardo Gacad MD  Warren & McClain MD Chartered  Revathy Murthy MD  Louis E Steinberg MD  Fumikazu Kawakami MD  David A Mishkin MD  Natvarlal Rajpara MD  Moti L Koul MD  Redjaee & Taleghani MDs  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Roberto Depetris MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  David A Mishkin MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  David A Mishkin MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates of Baltimore  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  David A Mishkin MD  Patel & Ramanan MDs  Patel & Ramanan MDs  Jay Gertenblith MD  Joseph H Miller MD  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  Maryland Lung Associates PA  Newman Wooster Kass Bradford McCormack & Hurwitz MDs  Malik A Rehman MD  Baltimore Pulmonary and Critical Care PA  James J Benjamin MD PA  Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Elliott Gorbaty MD  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Lung Associates of Anne Arundel PC  Pulmonary Consultants of Hagerstown  Pulmonary Consultants of Hagerstown  Pulmonary Consultants of Hagerstown  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Pulmonary & Critical Care  University of Maryland Medical Center Anesthesiology Germantown, MarylandUpcoming 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 Germantown
Nearby Germantown Hospitals *Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Suburban Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare National Institutes of Health Reston Hospital Center Holy Cross Hospital Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Frederick Memorial Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital Howard County General Hospital Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Georgetown University Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Laurel Regional Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital Springfield Hospital Center Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center Providence Hospital Children's National Medical Center Dominion Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Howard University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Doctors Community Hospital Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Inova Alexandria Hospital Saint Elizabeth's Hospital United Medical Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Northwest Hospital Spring Grove Hospital Center Carroll Hospital Center Prince William Hospital Kernan Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Jefferson Memorial Hospital Saint Agnes Hospital Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Baltimore Washington Medical Center Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Fort Washington 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
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. A poor blood supply resulting from congestive heart failure may cause the body's organ systems to fail, leading to a weakened heart muscle and fluid accumulation in the lungs and body tissue. There are many diseases that can impair pumping efficiency and symptoms of congestive heart failure including fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. Treatments include lifestyle modifications, medications, heart transplant, and therapy.
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Pneumonia
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Angina
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Acute Bronchitis
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Chronic Cough
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
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Pulmonary Hypertension
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Chronic Bronchitis
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Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
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Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
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Bronchiectasis
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Smoker's Lung: Pathology Photo Essay
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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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Asthma Complexities
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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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