Hi my father says he was diagnosed with Emphysema in 1951 whilst doing his National Service, he his now 90, is this possible ?

[Rotherman]

Could you be diagnosed with emphysema at 20 years old and still be alive at 90?

[Hidden]

Yes I think it is possible for some.

My step grandfather was diagnosed with emphysema when he was a baker during the war years, breathing bread flour in daily, he was in his 36th year if I remember correctly, he did smoke outside of working hours continued into his 80s. He lived till he was 93, his lungs were shot in the end though.

I have known others, diagnosed in their 50s who continued to smoke and didn't make it to 60 years though.

Hope your father is breathing ok.

[Rotherman in reply to Hidden]

My father has never had any symptoms or medication and he's basing his "Diagnosis" on an Army medical he had 70 years ago, plus he has not had any time off work through it.

[Rotherman in reply to Rotherman]

He also smoked from his teens up until he was 55.

[Hidden in reply to Rotherman]

Could be he stopped smoking just in time. Great he had no symptoms and never off sick. Unknown of course if his diagnosis was accurate.

[Rotherman in reply to Hidden]

He's always been a bit of a Hypochondriac so personally I think the Army medic was wrong, the same medic also told him he had a heart murmur at the same time 70 years ago and this has since been proved incorrect. lol

[Hidden in reply to Rotherman]

If your Dad did have respiratory probs at the time it likely would have shown a indication on the heart. I don't know about your Dad but if he was exposed to CS gas as I once was, this is known to cause respiratory problems.

Not really sure why you are asking here. Doing so will not necessarily prove or disprove the military medic was wrong, you can't we can't either.

Its great your Dad has no symptoms, just be thankful for that.

[Badbessie]

In medicine you always get the exception. Yes it could be possible.

[Superzob]

Yes, because life expectancy is based on averages or, to be more accurate, a “normal” range - there will always be people who “beat the odds”, and your father may well be one of those, and good luck to him!

[Nicholatracy]

I don’t see why not. A little hope for all us lunges 🐞

[Nicholatracy]

That would be lungies. 🐞

[2ndtenor]

60 years with bronchiectasis I have no idea why

My late wife was healthier than me but sadly passed away after 46 years married life and at 77 years old now I don’t think I will ever know the answer