Emphysema Center - Richmond, VA
Richmond 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 Richmond * VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  VCU Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine  Teekah & Tompkins MDs  Teekah & Tompkins MDs  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Pulmonary Associates of Richmond Inc  Carilion Medical Center Pediatric Specialty Clinic  John Michaels MD  Pulmonary and Sleep Consultants  Pulmonary and Sleep Consultants  Pulmonary and Sleep Consultants  Pulmonary and Sleep Consultants  Pulmonary and Sleep Consultants  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Pulmonary Associates of Fredericksburg  Drs Clinton & Robinson  Drs Clinton & Robinson  Lakeview Medical Center Inc  Lakeview Medical Center Inc  Kwabena A Donkor MD  KCS Pulmonary PC  Riverside Peninsula Pulmonary Associates  Riverside Peninsula Pulmonary Associates  Riverside Peninsula Pulmonary Associates  Riverside Peninsula Pulmonary Associates  Riverside Peninsula Pulmonary Associates  Virginia Pulmonary Associates PC  Pulmonary Allergy Clinic  William R Hammond MD  Colonial Pulmonary Associates  Colonial Pulmonary Associates  Colonial Pulmonary Associates  Phillip M Dennis MD  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  UVA Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine  DiPinto & DeSouza MDs  Veterans Affairs Medical Center  Emergency USA  Portsmouth Pulmonary Associates  Portsmouth Pulmonary Associates  Portsmouth Pulmonary Associates  Portsmouth Pulmonary Associates  Portsmouth Pulmonary Associates  Anil Verma MD  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Advanced Pulmonary and Critical Care PC  Eastern Virginia Medical School  EVMS Sleep Disorders Lab  Eastern Virginia Medical School  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists  Eastern Virginia Medical School  Eastern Virginia Medical School  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists  Imtiaz Zaman MD  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Northern Virginia Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Inova Transplant Center  Inova Transplant Center  Inova Transplant Center  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Pulmonary Associates  Eyad Abu-Hamda MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Pulmonary & Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia  Mahadevappa K Hunasikatti MD FCCP  Francis R Sappington MD Richmond, VirginiaUpcoming 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 Richmond
Nearby Richmond Hospitals *VCU Medical Center Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Children's Hospital Retreat Doctor's Hospital Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Virginia Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital CJW Medical Center Chippenham Campus Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital Henrico Doctors' Hospital Stony Point Surgery Center Parham Doctors' Hospital CJW Medical Center Johnston-Willis Campus Bon Secours St Francis Medical Center Hallmark Youth Care John Randolph Medical Center Central State Hospital Hiram W Davis Medical Center Poplar Springs Hospital Cumberland Hospital for Children & Adolescents Southside Regional Medical Center 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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