Emphysema Center - Levittown, PA
Levittown 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 Levittown * Institute for Respiratory  Institute for Respiratory  Institute for Respiratory  Institute for Respiratory  Institute for Respiratory  Institute for Respiratory  Segal Aaronson Pulmonary Associates  Segal Aaronson Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary Critical Care Associates  Segal Aaronson Pulmonary Associates  Segal Aaronson Pulmonary Associates  Segal Aaronson Pulmonary Associates  Aria Health ICU Dept  Drs Altschuler, Gelfand & Benjamin  Drs Altschuler, Gelfand & Benjamin  Drs Altschuler, Gelfand & Benjamin  Suburban Chest Associates  Suburban Chest Associates  Bucks County Medical Associates PC  Bucks County Medical Associates PC  Bucks County Medical Associates PC  Bucks County Medical Associates PC  Meadowbrook Pulmonary Associates  Meadowbrook Pulmonary Associates  Meadowbrook Pulmonary Associates  Meadowbrook Pulmonary Associates  Meadowbrook Pulmonary Associates  Huntingdon Valley Pulmonary Consultants  Huntingdon Valley Pulmonary Consultants  Huntingdon Valley Pulmonary Consultants  Fox Chase Cancer Center  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Abington Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates Ltd  Suburban Chest Associates  Suburban Chest Associates  Alan Steinbach MD  SCPA Pulmonary Associates  SCPA Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Care Specialists PC  Albert Einstein MC Pulmonary & Critical Care  Albert Einstein MC Pulmonary & Critical Care  Albert Einstein MC Pulmonary & Critical Care  Albert Einstein MC Pulmonary & Critical Care  Albert Einstein MC Pulmonary & Critical Care  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Temple Pulmonary Associates  Jefferson Pulmonary & Infectious Disease Associates  Jefferson Pulmonary & Infectious Disease Associates  Asthma Allergy Pulmonary Associates PC  Asthma Allergy Pulmonary Associates PC  Jefferson Pulmonary & Infectious Disease Associates  Jefferson Pulmonary & Infectious Disease Associates  Jefferson Pulmonary & Infectious Disease Associates  Jefferson Pulmonary & Infectious Disease Associates  Drexel Pulmonary Associates  Drexel Pulmonary Associates  Drexel Pulmonary Associates  David S Scott MD  Drexel Pulmonary Associates  Chestnut Hill Medical Specialists  Leon Kauffman MD  Pulmonary Disease Associates  Pulmonary Disease Associates  Drs Giampetro & Scheuerman PC  Drs Giampetro & Scheuerman PC  John H Hansen-Flaschen MD  Penn Lung Center  Penn Lung Center  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia  Penn Lung Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia  Penn Lung Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center  Pulmonary & Allery Associates  Pulmonary & Allery Associates  Pulmonary & Allery Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Respiratory Associates  Mercy Internal Medicine Associates  Pulmonary Care Associates Ltd  Pulmonary Medical Consultants Levittown, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-29
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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 Levittown
Nearby Levittown Hospitals *Frankford Hospital Bucks County Lower Bucks Hospital Capital Health System Mercer Campus St Mary Medical Center St Francis Medical Center Capital Health System Fuld Campus Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County Trenton Psychiatric Hospital Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton Aria Health Hampton Behavioral Health Center St Lawrence Rehabilitation Center Virtua Memorial Hospital Burlington County Angela Jane Pavilion Rehabilitation Hospital Nazareth Hospital Abington Memorial Health Center Warminster Campus Virtua Health & Rehabilitation Center @ Mt Holly Holy Redeemer Hospital & Medical Center Fox Chase Cancer Center Jeanes Hospital Abington Memorial Hospital Moss Rehabilitation Hospital Elkins Park Kindred Hospital Philadelphia Merwick Rehabilitation Hospital Frankford Hospital Frankford University Medical Center at Princeton Friends Hospital CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center Deborah Heart & Lung Center Moss Rehabilitation Hospital Albert Einstein Medical Center Kennedy Health System Cherry Hill Campus Princeton House Behavioral Health St Christopher's Hospital for Children Doylestown Hospital Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital Virtua West Jersey Hospital Marlton Weisman Children's Rehabilitation Hospital Foundations Behavioral Health Shriners Hospital for Children Temple University Hospital Kensington Hospital Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital Horsham Clinic Montgomery Rehab Hospital of Chestnut Hill Girard Medical Center Chestnut Hill Hospital Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center Cooper University Hospital Virtua Health Voorhees Virtua Health Camden Roxborough Memorial Hospital Fairmount Behavioral Health System Hahnemann University Hospital St Joseph Hospital Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Wills Eye Hospital Pennsylvania Hospital Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Carrier Clinic Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Saint Agnes Medical Center Central Montgomery Medical Center Methodist Hospital Philadelphia VA Medical Center Kennedy Health System Stratford Campus Buttonwood Hospital of Burlington County Lankenau Hospital Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia Mercy Suburban Hospital Hunterdon Medical Center Virtua West Jersey Hospital Berlin 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. |
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Secondhand Smoke
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Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Colds
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