Emphysema Center - Shoreline, WA
Shoreline 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 Shoreline * Northwest Pulmonary Associates  Northwest Pulmonary Associates  Northwest Pulmonary Associates  Stevens Pulmonary  Stevens Pulmonary  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UW Medical Center Hospital Services  UW Medical Center Hospital Services  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UW Medical Center Hospital Services  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Medical Specialties Clinic  John T Boyd MD  Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center  Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center  Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  Virginia Mason Pulmonary & Critical Care  The Polyclinic Pulmonary  Occupational & Environmental Clinic  Pacific Medical Centers  Pacific Medical Centers  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Chest Clinic  Michael Eulberg MD  Swedish Physicians West Seattle Clinic  Overlake Internal Medicine Associates  Overlake Internal Medicine Associates  Overlake Internal Medicine Associates  Eastside Pulmonary Associates  Everett Clinic Main Campus  Everett Clinic Main Campus  Everett Clinic Main Campus  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Western Washington Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Disorders  Robert L Clark MD  Fredric Jackson MD  The Doctors Clinic East Bremerton  Kitsap Chest Consultants  Kitsap Chest Consultants  Southlake Clinic  Southlake Clinic  Southlake Clinic  Southlake Clinic  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Pulmonary Consultants PLLC  Multi Care Pulmonary Clinic  Multi Care Pulmonary Clinic  Skagit Valley Medical Center  Olympic Medical Physicians  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  South Sound Pulmonary Associates  Olympia Sleep Laboratory  Northstar Associates PLLC  Peace Health Medical Group  Peace Health Medical Group Shoreline, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 Shoreline
Nearby Shoreline Hospitals *Northwest Hospital & Medical Center Stevens Hospital Kindred Hospital Seattle Swedish Medical Center Ballard Campus Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center Fairfax Hospital University of Washington Medical Center Evergreen Hospital Medical Center Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Group Health Central Hospital Virginia Mason Medical Center Swedish Medical Center First Hill Campus Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus Harborview Medical Center Overlake Hospital Medical Center Group Health Eastside Hospital VA Puget Sound Health Care System West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital Providence Everett Medical Center Pacific Campus Harrison Medical Center Providence Everett Medical Center Colby Campus Valley General Hospital Schick Shadel Hospital Highline Medical Center Specialty Campus The Regional Hospital for Respiratory & Complex Care Highline Medical Center Main Campus Valley Medical Center Auburn Regional Medical Center Cascade Valley Hospital Jefferson Healthcare St Francis Hospital Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center Tacoma 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. |
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