If you haven't been diagnosed with copd while you were smoking, does stopping smoking reduce your chance of developing it?

[elian]

I should certainly hope so craftyclara, though I'm not medically qualified to give a definite answer. I know that if a diagnosis of COPD has been given, then stopping smoking is the best thing to do to help halt progression of the condition, so stopping before diagnosis may help prevent the onset

[Hidden in reply to elian]

Thanks for that elian,what you say makes sense to me,it's just that a friend of mine stopped smoking and was diagnosed 10 years later. She seems to be blaming all the years she smoked.

Now I've stopped, I don't know what to expect.

[Lolly2 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there, I stopped smoking 10 years ago after 40 years of smoking. I was relatively fit (or so I thought) and felt great! 4 years later I was diagnosed with a Sarcoma next to my left lung. I began treatment almost immediately...first I had really strong chemotherapy, which had to be cut short as I was near death with it, then 6 weeks of radiotherapy, which burned away 2/3 of my left lung. I am left with my right lung which has COPD from all my smoking! Now I have 12 hours of Oxygen a day.

No matter how short a time we smoked, damage will have been done. There is no point in beating yourself up...what has been done is done.....now you have to do what you can to improve your health. COPD is a progressive disease, so continuing to smoke would make it worse. Eat well, exercise as much as you can, and take a positive outlook on life.

By the way, the doctors told me my cancer is not categorised as a smoking one! Go Figure!

Lolly/Carol

[elian]

I'm sure I won't be the only one to tell you that you've done the best thing in stopping smoking and so long as you continue to eat well, and sensibly, along with taking the right amount of exercise there is no reason why you shouldn't have a long, and healthy, life Even if you were to be diagnosed with COPD at a later date, maybe due to the smoking, it isn't a death sentence just a reminder to look after yourself better in order to prolong your life

I wish you well x

[Hidden in reply to elian]

Thanks elian for your words of encouragment,and advice,I will be taking it, All the best ... craftyclara.

[toonamp]

Excellent advice there from Elian

My sympathies for your friend, there's little doubt that smoking was a contributory factor. As has already been said, it's not the end of the world, and a sensible healthy life style will help in all circumstances.

[Hidden in reply to toonamp]

Hi toonamp, Yes, I'm so glad I found this site.

My friend also spent 45 years in the pottery industry.... what a combination! If you can survive 45yrs of dust and 45yrs of ciggies you must have a strong constitution.

[toonamp]

True. Some are more susceptible than others.

My work entailed much dust and chemical inhalation too, that with the chain smoking certainly didn't help my situation

Live healthily, and fingers crossed for you, that you will be ok.

[Hidden]

Thanks toonamp,Like my Mam used to say,"you live with the cards you're dealt".

No harm in crossing your fingers too though.

I only stopped 12 months ago,after 43 years. Didn't think I would ever be able to, but I thank God for Allen Carr and his book.Hope it's not too late to save my lungs.

[dall05]

You've done the best possible thing that you could do. WELL DONE! craftyclara. Live long and prosper.

[Hidden in reply to dall05]

I only joined this site today and posted my first question,everyone has been very kind and helpful,and made me feel so welcome. Thank You dall05 I wish you and the others well,too.

[Lynne1955]

I only got breathless after I stopped smoking. 2 months after. That is when I was diagnosed. My doctor told me that smoking disguises the symptoms and if you start being breathless whilst still smoking, it's more advanced.

Whatever, stopping smoking is the best thing anyone can do. 10 years seems a long time, but maybe she was in denial about symptoms before or maybe other factors made it show up later (weight, lack of exercise etc).

Lynne xx

[Hidden in reply to Lynne1955]

That's interesting Lynne, about smoking disguising symptoms, so I suppose then that you don't always have to show usual symptoms,and could already have the disease and not even be aware, until it's advanced. Is that common? I mean for it to start like that? I know nothing about this illness,apart from reading a bit on NHS site.

[y_not in reply to Hidden]

Like Lnne I stopped smoking (15 months ago) and within two months began to see symptoms, 11 months ago diagnosed and now learning to live with it.

Whilst at a respiratory ward I saw four guys all come in with COPD and all had been diagnosed soon after stopping smoking.

Problem with all that is my wife is still a smoker - seeing this she says that she has no intention of stopping and then risk being diagnosed ... I know it makes no sense, but I can sort of understand her views.

[Lynne1955]

That's what my doctor says. Smoking opens the airways, so you don't know there is a problem until the illness is more advanced. It will show up when you stop smoking, although the damage is being done whilst you smoke.

If you smoke and have symptoms, then it's a bit more advanced. I am classed as moderate with a FEV1 of 55%.

Lynne xx

[Wozzer1]

Only 1 in 4 or 25% of smokers gets copd.

smoking kills 1 in 2 or 50% of smokers over all.

Stopping is the best thing you can do.

.

[Hidden]

Yeah stopping smoking must help not developing lung disease. But I have heard of people who stopped 30 years ago and who got it. But they would probably have got it a lot earler if they hadn't stopped smoking.

My PR nurse said 1 in 5 smokers get COPD not 1 in 4??

Bev x