Emphysema Center - Lafayette, LA
Lafayette 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 Lafayette * Philip S Perret MD  Drs Brown Guidry & Rosson  Drs Brown Guidry & Rosson  Drs Brown Guidry & Rosson  Bendel Medical Associates LLC  Bendel Medical Associates LLC  Acadiana Medicine Clinic  Acadiana Medicine Clinic  Hebert Medical Group  Gregory J Ardoin MD  LSU Healthcare Network  LSU Healthcare Network  LSU Healthcare Network  LSU Healthcare Network  LSU Healthcare Network  LSU Healthcare Network  Reza Sheybani MD  The Baton Rouge Clinic AMC Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine  The Baton Rouge Clinic AMC Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine  The Baton Rouge Clinic AMC Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine  The Baton Rouge Clinic AMC Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine  The Baton Rouge Clinic AMC Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine  Critical Care Medical Services  Critical Care Medical Services  Critical Care Medical Services  Critical Care Medical Services  St Elizabeth Physicians  Pulmonary & Digestive Clinic  Maan Younes MD  Pulmonary Associates of SWLA  Pulmonary Associates of SWLA  Pulmonary Associates of SWLA  Pulmonary Associates of SWLA  Moss Regional Medical Center Pulmonary Disease  Sleep Disorders Center of Louisiana  Roger Stueben MD  Ralph J Bourgeois MD Lafayette, LouisianaUpcoming 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 Lafayette
Nearby Lafayette Hospitals *Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center Park Place Surgery Hospital Lafayette General Medical Center Louisiana Extended Care Hospital Lafayette University Medical Center Lafayette Community Specialty Hospital Lafayette Meadowbrook Specialty Hospital Heart Hospital of Lafayette Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital Acadia Vermilion Hospital Southwest Medical Center LTAC of Acadiana Southpark Community Hospital Womens & Children's Hospital St Martin Hospital Acadia St Landry Hospital Doctors Hospital of Opelousas American Legion Hospital Dauterive Hospital Crowley Rehabilitation Hospital Iberia Medical Center Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital Opelousas General Health System St Landry Extended Care Hospital Acadian Medical Center Abbeville General 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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Chronic Bronchitis
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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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