Is COPD a rare disease
not much known: Is COPD a rare disease - Lung Conditions C...
not much known
Written by
AnneGodolphin
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15 Replies
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unfortunately not it's getting more and more common, but if you read the blf leaflet it will tell you all you need to know,
from what I understand no.
COPD covers a varying lung problems
have you just been diagnosed ?
Hi
COPD is the most common lung condition - and more common than we think - many people have copd and haven't been officially diagnosed yet.
But as awareness increases more people are being diagnosed sooner - which is good as they can then make changes to their lifestyle to slow down it's progression and where appropriate start using medication to help deal with any symptoms etc.
COPD is an umbrella term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis - it doesn't include any other types of lung conditons.
There is lots of information on the BLF website about it - blf.org.uk - also I can send you some info out as well as a copy of a dvd about Living with COPD - just call the Helpline - 03000 030 555.
Thanks
Mark
We often hear of some doctors classing bronchiectasis as copd - which is incorrect - and then often people refer to chronic asthma as being included as copd - which is also incorrect. Perhaps I should have been clearer.
As for alpha 1 - it's the deficiency of the Alpha-1 that casues the lung damage which results in copd type damage to the lungs. So OK let's class that as COPD ffor ease of understanding. I think less tahn 2% of copd cases are a result of Alpha - 1.
I didn't want to quote figures about the numbers of people with copd - yes I've seen simialr quotes of 20% - but equally I've seen slightly lower - but again it's dtill very common whichever figure you use.
Thanks
Mark
Two umbrellas Asthma an Mild Copd with reversability only in the Asthma no reason to be vexatious you could get lung cancer from smoking it would not need to have a part of another umbrella it would have one of it;s own
in reply to moovin
As I said No reversibility in my chronic asthma
B.
moovin in reply to
Asthma = Reversability
COPD = NO Reversability
in reply to moovin
What part are you not reading I have a report from the hospital that states that I have chronic asthma and there is aFEV/FVC of 65 with NO REVERSIBILITY. There is no sarcasm in my reply to mark, only his statement that only two conditions are under the umbrella of COPD and asthma is reversible, when in some cases as in chronic asthma it has damaged my lungs and will NOT reverse. I also gave up smoking when my dad died of lung cancer five years ago, aged 84 I made no reference of lung cancer being under any umbrella. So why have you taken such offence. Do you not like the fact that my asthma is not reversible.
moovin in reply to
Have a diagnosis of ASTHMA why do you want it known as COPD is Asthma not enough for you, get over your self, the information from the BLF is clear. Deal with it and move on
Third biggest killer in the UK not a rare thing when you look at a death every 20 mins it is sadly not rare at all a message that needs more exposure as more cases are found earlier than ever before, when action can be taken to improve the outcomes.
Hi I learnt from the BLF bumph that one in seven people in Britian have a lung disease. I was also told by mr PR nurse that approx one in 5 smokers will get COPD.
Bev x
COPD is not rare at all and I had not realised just how many people have it until coming on this site. My father-in-law had emphysema but we never heard COPD mentioned back then (21 years ago). Pete has been diagnosed because the sarcoidosis has caused so much scarring on the lungs and airways that he now has chronic bronchitis and therefore copd. It is a dreadful disease which is not always caused by smoking but I do wish our son would give up. xxxxxxx
According to the World Health Organisation it is the 5th biggest killer in the world. They say in six years it will probably be the 3rd.
COPD appears to be similar to bronchiectasis, and maybe the two conditions can be mixed up at times. Am I right?
to Hidden, Bronc and COPD are not similar, as I have Bronc for almost 4 years, Bronc is more like an adult form of cystic fibrosis, indeed the same inhalers and lots of medication for Bronc and CF are the same. COPD is usually, though not always caused by smoking, no one is really certain what causes Bronc, my specialists thinks I got Bronc through having TB as a child, oh I don't smoke either, although I guess passive smoking can cause COP. HOWEVER I sincerely wish everyone better health and better understanding from people who do not understand that every chest complaint is not caused by smoking, in fact in America the biggest killer is obesity, caused by dreadful diets.
