Copd progression

[warbler]

Hi, could anyone tell me what it is that causes COPD to progress ? I read it's down to either inflammation or chest infections, does this sound right ?

Thanks in advance.

[Hidden]

Yes.  Chest infections and exacerbations can do further damage to our lungs so we need to be proactive in dealing with them.   Also your lung function naturally declines with age anyway.   x

[Sokrackers in reply to Hidden]

Yes I agree with you cal but... exercise is the best option in my opinion.

I am a yo-yo exerciser but I truly believe my sats improved greatly when I was a 'gym bunny' I stopped due to neck problems and work.  I watched my sats fall seriously so had to make a determined effort to get back to exercise and I feel great, my aches n pains are lessened and my sats are coming back up so its a win win situation for me.  I can't beat COPD but I can fight it hard whilst I can.

[warbler in reply to Sokrackers]

Thank you for your reply, I also feel lots better with exercise (mild COPD) I do a lot of swimming and cannot believe how much better I feel after it breathing wise.

[warbler in reply to Hidden]

I was also thinking of the inflammatory response that smoking causes, does this itself get worse once quitting ? ... and wouldn't that mean that your lungs are effectively attacking themselves ? or is that what they call an exasperation ?

[Billiejean_2 in reply to warbler]

Warbler, some people 'affectionately' refer to exasperations but the correct term is 'exacerbation'. An exacerbation means an increase in severity of at least three symptoms, e.g., wheezing, coughing, sputum production. It's possible to have an exacerbation without having an infection but both usually go together.

[warbler in reply to Billiejean_2]

Thank you very much for that, im finally starting to understand it a bit more.

[Hidden in reply to warbler]

No.  When you stop smoking your lungs automatically try and recover so you might cough more and have more exacerbations for a while until they do.   It's not your lungs 'attacking'  themselves but trying to heal the damage that has been caused.  x

[warbler in reply to Hidden]

I was thinking along the lines of the word 'chronic' meaning permanent inflammation which is the bodys defence mechanism but also ends up contributing to the progression itself ? hope im making sense here lol

[Hidden in reply to warbler]

Hi well I see the word 'chronic' to mean a long term illness rather than permanent inflammation.   I understand what you are saying and I do agree that the body's defences can prove troublesome but imagine what would happen eg if you were unable to cough?   This is mucus expelling objects from your lung,  and if it didn't happen  then you would die very quickly.   x

[warbler in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes, that would not be good,  so I see now it means more of a long term illness, thank you. 

[Hidden in reply to warbler]

lol x

[Hidden]

My mum's decline started with a pneumonia and then so many exacerbations and each time she would leave hospital it would just become a bit more difficult and her lung capacity became so compromised. Then chronic respiratory failure kicked in and this seemed to be the biggy as her oxygen sats became awful even at rest, sometimes as low as 58% when lying Down. She unfortunately became bed bound because it was so difficult for her, but before this she loved pulmonary rehab and setting herself small physical challenges until her body couldn't keep up with her goals!

[warbler in reply to Hidden]

Thank you heart123, such a shame, hope you are ok x

[Hidden in reply to warbler]

It is hard I can't lie but I have nothing but admiration for my mum she fought so hard, that's why I think lung disease should be given just as much recognition as other diseases because it affects your quality of life perhaps more than others

[warbler in reply to Hidden]

I agree,my Mum passed away two years ago, she suffered with COPD for years, its awful to see.

[Hidden in reply to warbler]

I'm sorry warbler. It really is tough to watch. Is that what your mum eventually passed away from too?

[warbler in reply to Hidden]

Yes she did Heart123, almost two years ago, she'd suffered for around 10 years with chest infections and all the problems COPD bring then came the pneumonia and she seriously went from bad to worse, Mum only had 4 months left to live after that.