Pneumonia Center - Asheville, NCAsheville Internist Doctors for PneumoniaType of Physician: Internist What is a Internist? A certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners provide long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common illnesses and complex problems for adolescents, adults, and the elderly. General internists are trained in primary care internal medicine, which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and treatment of problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs. All internists are trained in the subspecialty areas of internal medicine including emergency internal medicine and critical care. Internists consult with surgeons when surgical management is indicated, and often act as consultants to other specialists. Specialty: Internal Medicine Common Name: Internist Doctors in Asheville * Biltmore Medical Associates  Biltmore Medical Associates  Biltmore Medical Associates  Biltmore Medical Associates  Biltmore Medical Associates  Biltmore Medical Associates  Biltmore Medical Associates  Asheville Gastroenterology  WNC Hypertension Center  Allergy Partners of North Carolina  C Deaton Maddox MD  Mountain Kidney Associates Hendersonville  Mountain Kidney Associates Hendersonville  Asheville Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates  Mountain Kidney Associates Hendersonville  Mountain Kidney Associates Hendersonville  Mountain Kidney Associates Hendersonville  Mountain Kidney Associates Hendersonville  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  Carolina Internal Medicine Associates  Carolina Internal Medicine Associates  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  Carolina Internal Medicine Associates  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  Asheville Infectious Disease Consultants  PrimeDoc  PrimeDoc  Carolina Internal Medicine Associates  Carolina Internal Medicine Associates  PrimeDoc  Drs Pozner & Rosenberg  PrimeDoc  Drs Pozner & Rosenberg  PrimeDoc  Carolina Internal Medicine Associates  Asheville Internal Medicine  Asheville Internal Medicine  Asheville Internal Medicine  Asheville Internal Medicine  Asheville Internal Medicine  Asheville Internal Medicine  Asheville Hospitalist Group  David A Clements MD PLLC  William B Fowler MD  Mission Childrens Clinics  Asheville Integrative Medicine  Asheville Integrative Medicine  Kemp Battle MD  Sulphur Springs Health Ctr  Il Sung Lee MD  Mountain Diabetes & Endocrine Center  Asheville Medicine & Pediatrics  Carolina Mountain Gastroenterology  Carolina Mountain Gastroenterology  Grace Hematology & Oncology  Park Ridge Geriatrics  Park Ridge Medical Associates  Hot Springs Health Program Marshall  Hot Springs Health Program Marshall  Hot Springs Health Program Marshall  Edward K Bentson MD  Laurel Park Medical Centre  Laurel Park Medical Centre  Laurel Park Medical Centre  Laurel Park Medical Centre  Western Carolina Medical Associates  Western North Carolina Rheumatology  Western Carolina Medical Associates  Western Carolina Medical Associates  Western Carolina Medical Associates  James J Caserio MD  Henderson County Internists PA  Henderson County Internists PA  Joanne E Helppie MD  David Francis Slawek MD  A Dale Nash MD  Gerald R Martin MD  Western Carolina Cardiology  Mountain Medical Associates  Mountain Medical Associates  Mountain Medical Associates  Mountain Medical Associates  Mountain Medical Associates  Mountain Medical Associates  Susan Holman MD  Medical Associates of Transylvania  Medical Associates of Transylvania  Charles Lefler MD  Laurelyn Medical Group  McDowell Internal Medicine  McDowell Internal Medicine  Gretchen K Hermanny MD Asheville, North CarolinaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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PneumoniaWhat is pneumonia?Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently died from the infection. Currently, over 3 million people develop pneumonia each year in the United States. Over a half a million of these people are admitted to a hospital for treatment. Although most of these people recover, approximately 5% will die from pneumonia. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
How do people "catch pneumonia"?Some cases of pneumonia are contracted by breathing in small droplets that contain the organisms that can cause pneumonia. These droplets get into the air when a person infected with these germs coughs or sneezes. In other cases, pneumonia is caused when bacteria or viruses that are normally present in the mouth, throat, or nose inadvertently enter the lung. During sleep, it is quite common for people to aspirate secretions from the mouth, throat, or nose. Normally, the body's reflex response (coughing back up the secretions) and their immune system will prevent the aspirated organisms from causing pneumonia. However, if a person is in a weakened condition from another illness, a severe pneumonia can develop. People with recent viral infections, lung disease, heart disease, and swallowing problems, as well as alcoholics, drug users, and those who have suffered a stroke or seizure are at higher risk for developing pneumonia than the general population. As we age, our swallowing mechanism can become impaired as does our immune system. These factors, along with some of the negative side effects of medications, increase the risk for pneumonia in the elderly. Once organisms enter the lungs, they usually settle in the air sacs and passages of the lung where they rapidly grow in number. This area of the lung then becomes fille... Recommended Reading Related to PneumoniaSwine flu (H1N1 influenza virus) facts
What is swine flu (novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu)?Swine flu (swine influenza) is a... Other Related Pneumonia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Asheville
Nearby Asheville Hospitals *Mission Hospitals St Joseph's Campus Mission St Joseph's Memorial Campus CarePartners Rehabilitation Hospital Asheville VA Medical Center Park Ridge Hospital Pardee Hospital Haywood Regional Medical Center Transylvania Community Hospital The McDowell Hospital St Luke's Hospital Spruce Pine Community 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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