Emphysema Center - Penn Hills, PA
Penn Hills 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 Penn Hills * Lung Associates  Pulmonary Consultants UPMC  Pulmonary Consultants UPMC  Pulmonary Consultants UPMC  Pulmonary Consultants UPMC  United Physicians Inc  Shadyside Medical Group  David O Wilson MD  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Medical Thoracic Associates  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Medical Thoracic Associates  Medical Thoracic Associates  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Medical Thoracic Associates  Marc D Laufe MD  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Medical Thoracic Associates  Associates in Respiratory Medicine  Medical Thoracic Associates  Medical Thoracic Associates  Medical Thoracic Associates  Lung Associates  Lung Associates  Southwestern PA Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine  Bennett Obringer Pulmonary  Lung Associates  Southwestern PA Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine  Lung Associates  Lung Associates  Lung Associates  Children?s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pulmonology  Children?s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pulmonology  Children?s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pulmonology  Children?s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pulmonology  Children?s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pulmonology  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  UPMC Pulmonary  Chaudry Pulmonary Associates  Chaudry Pulmonary Associates  South Hills Pulmonary Associates  Healthquest Medical Associates  Alagar Medical Associates  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Allegheny Pulmonary Associates  Allegheny Pulmonary Associates  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Allegheny Pulmonary Associates  Integrated Pulmonary Physicians  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pulmonary Partners Ltd  Pittsburgh Pulmonary Associates  Pittsburgh Pulmonary Associates  Pittsburgh Pulmonary Associates  Pittsburgh Pulmonary Associates  Pittsburgh Pulmonary Associates  Adnan K Nassur MD  South Hills Pulmonary Associates  South Hills Pulmonary Associates  St Clair Memorial Hospital Pulmonary Disease  South Hills Pulmonary Associates  Daniel A Iracki MD  Westmoreland Sleep Medicine  S K Aneja MD  George B Goodman MD PC  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Gregory B Patrick MD & Sharon R Roseman MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  Tri-State Pulmonary Medicine LTD  Tri-State Pulmonary Medicine LTD  Tri-State Pulmonary Medicine LTD  Tapyrik & Erukhimov MDs  Tapyrik & Erukhimov MDs  Polepalli S Setty MD  Ratnakar S Shetty MD Penn Hills, PennsylvaniaUpcoming 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 Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of disorders which share common features including easy bruising, joint hypermobility (loose joints), skin that stretches easily (skin hyperelasticity or laxity), and weakness of tissues. The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are inherited in the genes that are passed from parents to offspring. They are categorized according to the form of genetic transmission into different types with many features differing between patients in any given type. The fragile skin and loose joints is often a result of abnormal genes that produce abnormal proteins that confer an inherited frailty of collagen (the normal protein "glue" of our tissues). In 2001, researchers discovered a new form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that is caused by an inherited abnormality in a protein other than collagen that also normally plays a role in binding together the cells of our tissues (including the skin, tendons, muscle... Other Related Emphysema ArticlesEmergency Contact for Penn Hills
Nearby Penn Hills Hospitals *HEALTHSOUTH Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital UPMC St Margaret VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Main Campus Transitional Infant Care Hospital The Children's Institute UPMC Shadyside Western Pennsylvania Hospital UPMC Braddock The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Pittsburgh Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC Presbyterian Magee-Womens Hospital UPMC Mercy UPMC Southside Allegheny General Hospital Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh North Shore Alle-Kiski Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital McKeesport UPMC McKeesport UPMC Passavant Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh North Campus Jefferson Regional Medical Center Ohio Valley General Hospital St Clair Hospital Westmoreland Excela Health Hospital at Jeannette Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital UPMC Passavant Cranberry Mayview State Hospital Southwood Psychiatric Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley Westmoreland Regional Hospital Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh Monongahela Valley Hospital Butler Memorial Hospital Canonsburg General Hospital ACMH Hospital Butler VA Medical Center Latrobe Area Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Greensburg Frick Hospital Kindred Hospital at Heritage Valley Medical Center of Beaver Torrance State Hospital The Washington Hospital Ellwood City 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. |
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