COPD - what a jail sentence..

[PW_R]

I’m just wondering what’s the number one thing that has significantly progressed your disease (copd/bronch/severe asthma) over the years?

Was it:

A) Smoking post diagnosis

B) Air pollution

C) Viral or bacterial infections

D) Other

[sassy59]

Pete has COPD (chronic bronchitis) diagnosed in 2010 during hospital stay. It’s naturally progressive but he tries to stay as well as possible. He did smoke but gave up in the early 90’s due to being diagnosed with sarcoidosis.

[TheOldBoy]

I’m not far enough beyond diagnosis to give an opinion… BUT here’s a graph to show how (on average) quitting smoking vs continuing effects FEV1, the measure of progression…

Cheers, Adam

Smoking vs nonsmoking => FEV1

[PW_R in reply to TheOldBoy]

Interesting graph. When were you diagnosed and what stage are you?

[TheOldBoy in reply to PW_R]

I was diagnosed with mild COPD and 1x faulty alpha faulty gene 2 years ago age 52 + 30 pack years… I was just outside the lower limits of normal and fairly asymptomatic, I have another lung function test at the end of the month so I’ll have a better idea of any progression (or hopefully not) then…

I’ve taken all the normal precautions: stopping smoking / exercise / diet. One thing I will say is that anyone who is lucky enough to be caught at stage 1 like myself or as you describe yourself ‘stage 0’ should hopefully be lucky enough to take preventative measures before becoming too symptomatic… Fortunately due to the advances in and prevalence of medical imaging, early diagnosis appears to becoming more common… One thing I did find early on is stress can exaggerate symptoms…

Good luck, we’re all in this together…

Cheers, Adam

[Yoga2011 in reply to TheOldBoy]

I don’t understand the graph?

[PW_R in reply to Yoga2011]

Stop smoking and your FEV will decline more slowly.

[TheOldBoy in reply to Yoga2011]

predicts that on average in patients with COPD, FEV1 (a measure of lung function) declines at twice the speed in those who continue to smoke compare to those who quit

NB lung function is declining in everyone after 30(ish)

Cheers, Adam

[Patk1]

Prob C, followed by A and D = not being " heard"/listened to

[O2Trees]

Time!!!

[PaulineHM]

Hi, there are many behaviours and triggers for improving our journey with respiratory conditions.

The bad news…smoking will definitely hasten decline in health, not just in lung function but in cardio vascular health ( brain to toes ), diabetes and so on. Repeated lung infections leave scarring which impairs lung function long term. Carbohydrate loaded diet requires a good deal of energy to digest which takes from our energy reserves which we need to breathe. Lack of exercise deconditions us so creating a vicious circle impacting our breathing.

I often think it isn’t about how long I live but rather the qualifying my day to day life. So applying all those healthy behaviours to daily life as well as much as possible can only help daily living. It helps to have a plan to get going and find support for that if possible.

Hope this helps..

Go well,

Pauline

[Thinkhealthy]

other - not exercising enough !! Seriously - not smoked for 20 years, live in a rural area - olive flowers the worst antigen ! Avoid chemical anything - but …. Bring lazy not exercising enough is the worst thing we can do !!

[Dianajoy]

Definitely C - a specialist told me each infection leaves more damage on the lungs.

[pepparuby1]

definitely infections - can avoid them!! But exercise is key

[B0xermad]

Mine was C.. due to late onset asthma in my 40s and being a 60s baby poor environmental air quality and a low birth weight baby is what I have been told