Pneumonia Center - Chapel Hill, NCChapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill * UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  Carrboro Pediatrics & Internal Medicine  Carrboro Pediatrics & Internal Medicine  UNC Medical School Geriatric Medicine  UNC Medical School Geriatric Medicine  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  Campus Health Services of Internal Medicine  UNC Medical School Geriatric Medicine  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  UNC Medical School Geriatric Medicine  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  Carrboro Pediatrics & Internal Medicine  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  UNC General Medicine & Epidemiology  Carrboro Pediatrics & Internal Medicine  UNC Medical School Geriatric Medicine  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Physician Services Adult Neurology  UNC Physicians & Associates  UNC Physicians & Associates  UNC Physicians & Associates  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  University of NC Hospital Infectious Diseases  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Gastroenterology  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  UNC Internal Medicine Clinic  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Chapel Hill Internal Medicine  Avalon Medical Group  Doctors Making Housecalls  Doctors Making Housecalls  Doctors Making Housecalls  Doctors Making Housecalls  Thomas Motyka DO  Chatham Crossing Medical Clinic  Chatham Crossing Medical Clinic  Chatham Crossing Medical Clinic  Chatham Crossing Medical Clinic  Chapel Hill North Medical Center  Chatham Crossing Medical Clinic  Chatham Crossing Medical Clinic  Duke General Internal Medicine Clinic  Duke General Internal Medicine Clinic  Duke General Internal Medicine Clinic  Duke General Internal Medicine Clinic  Duke General Internal Medicine Clinic  Duke University Medical Center  UNC Division of Endocrinology  Duke General Internal Medicine  Duke General Internal Medicine  Sutton Station Internal Medicine  Sutton Station Internal Medicine  Sutton Station Internal Medicine  Sutton Station Internal Medicine  Duke Center for Aging  DUMC Dept of Internal Medicine  DUMC Internal Medicine  VA Medical Center Internal Medicine  Durham VA Medical Center Internal Medicine  Duke University Medical Center  Durham VA Medical Center Internal Medicine  Durham VA Medical Center Internal Medicine  Duke University Medical Center  Durham VA Medical Center  Duke University Medical Center  Duke University Medical Center  Metropolitan Durham Medical  Metropolitan Durham Medical  Lincoln Community Health Center Inc  Lincoln Community Health Center Inc  Lincoln Community Health Center Inc  R Carl Britt MD  Lincoln Community Health Center Inc  Lincoln Community Health Center Inc  Lincoln Community Health Center Inc  Michael H Richards MD  Duke UMC Dermatology  Center of Aging and Geriatrics  Duke University Medical Center Internal Medicine  Duke University Healthcare Center  Barton F Haynes MD  Center of Aging and Geriatrics  DUMC Hematology & Oncology Chapel Hill, North CarolinaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 Chapel Hill
Nearby Chapel Hill Hospitals *UNC Health Care Duke University Medical Center Durham VA Medical Center Durham Regional Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Durham North Carolina Specialty Hospital WakeMed Cary Hospital Rex Healthcare John Umstead Hospital Duke Raleigh Hospital Chatham Hospital Alamance Regional Medical Center WakeMed Raleigh Campus Holly Hill Hospital Central Carolina Hospital Person Memorial 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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