Information

[Scottish65lass]

I’ve just been diagnosed with copd, what is life expectancy

[ssgaurav2000]

Dear Scottish I suggest you pls speak to your doctor as with limited info no body could be able to answer , also you should have a positive outlook and think of better things around you now and in future . I was worried about COPD as well as im an ex smoker and recently suffering breathlessness im 41 , may i know how was you COPD diagnosed ? What all test you did ? Wish you good luck with recovery !

[Pantani]

There are people on here who have managed their COPD for a long time. I was first diagnosed in 2004 and I'm still here. I wont deny that I have bad days but I think as long as you have a positive attitude and take care to eat well ,exercise and avoid pollution and people with colds then you can last a long time. Join a breathe easy group if there is one near, also Singing for breathing helps a lot. Hope this helps.

[2greys]

How long is a piece of string? Which I know is not that helpful. Do you know at what stage you have yet? If you are stage one (mild) you will probably die from old age, not because of COPD. So much depends on you, there are medicines to help with the symptoms.

You will have to change your lifestyle. If you smoke then you need to quit a.s.a.p. which is the single best thing that you can do to slow down the progression. The next best things are regular exercise. Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy BMI. Take all your medication as prescribed. Drink plenty of water to help thin the mucus, to move it up and out. Learn to "belly breathe" properly. Just as important, keep a positive mental attitude towards life and enjoy it.

There are members here that have lived with the condition for many years and still going strong.

Personally, I am at stage 3 (severe) almost stage 4 (very severe) and diagnosed very late, 3 years ago as severe. 69 years old with multiple comorbidities and I still work full-time on my feet all day, engineering. In three weeks I will be skippering a 10 ton sailing cruiser for a weeks holiday. I can do all this and more just by following the rules.

Yes it is a chronic disease, there is no cure, but you can slow the progression right down, there is absolutely no need to get worried or depressed by your diagnosis.

[Lemon7]

My mum has had copd for 33 years. Diagnosed at 50, she is 83 now. Has got worse over time but not on oxygen. She didn't particularly keep active, is overweight. I am now diagnosed copd mild, I am doing regular exercise, healthy diet, healthy bmi, avoiding colds where possible, in an attempt to slow the progression if possible. Doing everything you can to help yourself is all we can do with help of medical professionals too. Best wishes to you.

[Lemon7]

Should have added the most important, don't smoke and avoid pollution etc

[hypercat54]

Well if you are stage 1 or 2 you will probably die of something else first like old age! If at the later stages you still have years yet. x

[Scottish65lass in reply to hypercat54]

Thankyou 💖

[Hidden]

Is it quality of life rather than it being a death sentence. That's my main question