Emphysema Center - Meriden, CT
Meriden 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 Meriden * Pulmonary Associates  Giosa & Brown Pulmonary Associates  Giosa & Brown Pulmonary Associates  Richard A Smith MD  Grove Hill Medical Center Pulmonology  Grove Hill Medical Center Pulmonology  New Britain General Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Joseph A Harrison MD  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Medicine  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Medicine  Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Medicine  Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases  CT Medical Group  Jacob S Loke MD  Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Pulmonary Associates Of Bristol  Jegathesan & Jegathesan MDs  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Connecticut Multispecialty Group Pulmonary Disease& Internal Medicine  Pacifico Flores Jr. MD  Margaret Woznica MD & Zbigniew Woznica MD  Capitol Chest Physicians  Leslie B Lindenberg MD  Hartford Hospital Clinical Research Center Inc  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Asthma Center Connecticut Children's Medical Center  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Pulmonary & Internal Medicine Associates  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  St Francis Hospital Pulmonary Medicine  Adiraju Bayan Hashim Jha & Yekta MDs  Prime Healthcare PC - Pulmonology/Internal Medicine  Waterbury Pulmonary  Waterbury Pulmonary  Waterbury Pulmonary  Waterbury Pulmonary  Waterbury Pulmonary  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Pulmonary Associates of New Haven  Franklin Medical Group PC  Yale Occupational & Environmental Medicine  Franklin Medical Group PC  Pulmonary Care PC  Lung Associates of Connecticut  Chapel Pulmonary & Critical Care  Pulmonary Care PC  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Yale Pulmonary & Critical Care  Madhu S Gowda MD  Pulmonary Specialties  Pulmonary Specialties  Carlos S Schweitzer MD  Harbor Medical Associates LLC  Internal Medicine Of Milford PC  Medical Group of Milford  Nitai I Riegler & Steven L Saunders MDs  Allergy & Pulmonary Specialists PC  Richard Krinsky MD Meriden, ConnecticutUpcoming Local Events2012-06-17
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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 Meriden
Nearby Meriden Hospitals *MidState Medical Center The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus Gaylord Hospital Masonic Healthcare Center Middlesex Hospital Connecticut Valley Hospital The Hospital of Central Connecticut New Britain Campus Riverview Hospital for Children & Youth Rushford Center Hospital for Special Care Veterans Home & Hospital Rocky Hill Bristol Hospital St Mary's Hospital VA Connecticut Healthcare System Newington Campus Cedarcrest Hospital Waterbury Hospital University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey Institute of Living Hartford Hospital Connecticut Children's Medical Center Hartford Hospital St Francis Hospital & Medical Center Hospital of St Raphael Connecticut Mental Health Center Yale-New Haven Hospital Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital The Hospital at Hebrew Healthcare Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital St Francis Care Hospital Mount Sinai Campus VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus Griffin Hospital Manchester Memorial Hospital Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Milford Hospital Rockville General Hospital Bridgeport Hospital Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care St Vincent's Medical Center New Milford Hospital Windham Community Memorial Hospital Natchaug Hospital Danbury 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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Chronic Bronchitis
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Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
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Bronchiectasis
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Secondhand Smoke
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Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Colds
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