Emphysema Center - Waco, TX
Waco 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 Waco * Scott & White Memorial Hospital  Scott & White Memorial Hospital  Scott & White Memorial Hospital  Pulmonary Diseases & Internal Medicine Clinic  Hisham Bismar MD & Lalitha Jagadish MD  Dayaker Gagadam MD  Augustine Attiah MD  Dallas Lung Consultants PA  Calvin Dixon MD  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Billy M Eden MD  North Texas Lung & Sleep Clinic PA  North Texas Lung & Sleep Clinic PA  Francis E Tacka DO PA  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  Cook Children's Medical Center Pulmonology Clinic  Norman M Kopman DO  Pulmonary Consultants of Texas PA  K Osafo MD PA  UNT Health Internal Medicine Pulmonary Dept  Brazos Lung Assoc  Brazos Lung Assoc  Brazos Lung Assoc  Consultants In Pulmonary Disease  Joyce T Hohn MD PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Texas Lung Center  Texas Lung Center  Texas Lung Center  Texas Primary Hospitalists Group  Texas Lung Center  Texas Lung Center  Joyce M Shotwell MD PA  Baylor Martha Foster Lung Care Center  Southwest Pulmonary Associates LLP  Southwest Pulmonary Associates LLP  Southwest Pulmonary Associates LLP  Southwest Pulmonary Associates, LLP  UT Southwestern Med Ctr Pulmonary & Critical Care  UT Southwestern Med Ctr Pulmonary & Critical Care  UT Southwestern Med Ctr Pulmonary & Critical Care  UT Southwestern Med Ctr Pulmonary & Critical Care  Austin Diagnostic Clinic Pulmonary  Austin Diagnostic Clinic Pulmonary  Austin Diagnostic Clinic Pulmonary  Cain & Gilbey MDs  Cain & Gilbey MDs  Alpha Pulmonary  Alpha Pulmonary  Alpha Pulmonary  Alpha Pulmonary  Alpha Pulmonary  David Berzon MD  David Berzon MD  North Texas Pulmonary  Mesquite Community Hospital  Pedro T Zevallos MD  Charles W Prochera MD  Mark A Co MD  White Rock Pulmonary  White Rock Pulmonary  Yousef Abou-Kayyas MD  Texas Pulmonary Consultants  Texas Pulmonary Consultants  Howard M Mintz MD  Southwest Pulmonary Associates, LLP  Southwest Pulmonary Associates, LLP  Howard M Mintz MD  Southwest Pulmonary Associates, LLP  Southwest Pulmonary Associates, LLP  Southwest Pulmonary Associates, LLP  NJZ Medical Associates  Texas Regional Asthma & Allergy Center  Dallas Pulmonary Associates  Sleep Medicine Consultants  Asthma & Respiratory Consultants PA  Bruce L Ackerman DO  Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Pedro P Hani MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA  Allan N Shulkin MD  Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants PA Waco, TexasUpcoming Local Events2012-06-01
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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 Waco
Nearby Waco Hospitals *Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center Central Texas VA Healthcare System Waco Providence Healthcare Network Falls Community Hospital & Clinic Lake Whitney Medical Center Goodall-Witcher Hospital Hill Regional Hospital Central Texas VA Healthcare System Temple 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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Congestive Heart Failure
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Pneumonia
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Angina
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Chronic Cough
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Pulmonary Hypertension
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Chronic Bronchitis
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Smoking (How to Quit Smoking)
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Bronchiectasis
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Smoker's Lung: Pathology Photo Essay
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Heart Failure
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Chagas Disease
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Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
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Lung Anatomy
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Secondhand Smoke
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Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Colds
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