how can I have the begining stage of copd when i haven't smoked for very long?

Question

Can I get copd from second hand smoke?

Answer 1

Both of my parents died of COPD. Here is some information that I found helpful to our family. I hope it help.

Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Most people with COPD are smokers or former smokers. Breathing in other kinds of lung irritants, like pollution, dust, or chemicals, over a long period of time may also cause or contribute to COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe. In COPD, the airways—the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs—are partly obstructed, making it difficult to get air in and out.

The airways branch out like an upside-down tree, and at the end of each branch are many small, balloon-like air sacs. In healthy people, each airway is clear and open. The air sacs are small and dainty, and both the airways and air sacs are elastic and springy. When you breathe in, each air sac fills up with air like a small balloon; when you breathe out, the balloon deflates and the air goes out. In COPD, the airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy. Less air gets in and less air goes out because:

The airways and air sacs lose their elasticity (like an old rubber band).
The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed.
The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed (swollen).
Cells in the airways make more mucus (sputum) than usual, which tends to clog the airways.

COPD develops slowly, and it may be many years before you notice symptoms like feeling short of breath. Most of the time, COPD is diagnosed in middle-aged or older people.

COPD is a major cause of death and illness, and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and throughout the world.

There is no cure for COPD. The damage to your airways and lungs cannot be reversed, but there are things you can do to feel better and slow the damage.

COPD is not contagious—you cannot catch it from someone else.

Answer 2

There are documented case studies that show that respiratory diseases, such as emphysema, are present within the first few months of a subject who smokes. Second hand smoke and other irritants can only further the progression. Give up smoking while you can. I treat COPDers all day long. You don't want to be sitting in a hospital bed gasping for breath every single day. Good luck with everything.

Answer 3

it does not matter if you only smoke one week smoking damages your lung tissues. yes you can get copd from smoking (just check out my lung function studies from living in the house with 2 parents that smoked all my life)

Answer 4

ABSOLUTELY YOU CAN GET IT FROM SMOKING OR SECOND HAND SMOKE AND ONCE YOU HAVE IT IT STAYS WITH YOU SO DONT SMOKE AND TRY AND STAYAWAY FROM THOSE WHO DO IT LITERALLY IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND BREATH YOU NEED TO SEE A PULMONOLOGIST ASAP YOU HAVE A ROUGH ROAD AHEAD OF YOU BEEN THERE GORBALIZER

Answer 5

you can no matter how long or how much :o( ....
does it run in your family ?
yes.... you can get it from second hand smoke

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html