In a YOUNG person With Confirmed COPD, What is Chief Among your Concerns?

Question

Thanks, grimmy Tea and Mr. Wizard, I've Thought Bout A-1ATD and Asthma, Eviromental Factors Are Prominent, Can One Include Year-Round Allergies?

Thanks, grimmy Tea.

Answer 1

1) smoking

2) environmental exposure to a lung irritant (besides tobacco smoke--e.g., occupational hazards)

3) alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Don't know how young is YOUNG, but A-1ATD probably increases in likelihood the younger the person is--particularly if there is a family history of COPD and neither of the other risk factors. I believe it can be checked with a simple blood test for A-1AT levels (and/or gel electrophoresis to look for mutations, followed by genetic testing if other results are positive). Also these things are all additive, so someone who smokes, works as a stonecutter, and has A-1ATD would probably develop COPD in his twenties.



Can year-round allergies cause COPD?

According to this website, "allergies appear to have nothing to do with COPD":
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/seniorsandasthma/when_asthma_copd_coexist.stm

But I don't know what happens to someone who has allergy-induced asthma that is untreated for a long period of time. Would the patient's lungs become so scarred from the chronic inflammation that they essentially get COPD?

Answer 2

From the second we're born, our enviroment--and later on--our lifestyle choices bear a great part into how long we live.

Living in an industrially polluted area, carelessness in certain professions where enviroments of smoke, chemical fumes, dust and yes....even cigarette smoking...greatly decrease your years of life.

Assuming "young" is a 20 something year old person: it's likely they have an inherit trait of asthma or bronchitis in their family history . Early detection/treatment is key to gaining control of the asthma/bronchitis condition; better if the patient is a non-smoker--BUT a smoker--if they quit--can also gain control as well (just they clearly see the physical limitations their smoking caused).

Upon diagnosis, a COPD patient must fight off the shroud of depression....snap back from it--and get busy with the work ahead:

Find out about ALL COPD treatment options; your doctor should present some that best suit you--and it's strongly recommended you strictly adhere to such treatment plans.

Asthma/bronchitis COPD is NOT a death knell if you use common sense in your positive lifestyle changes.

Emphesyma COPD, however, IS a terminal condition--normally, such diagnosed patients are those who for years have been heavy chain smokers or persons who have been exposed to extreme toxic pollution.

In any case, do the research, talk to your doctor and apply a positive mindset to an equally positive healthier lifestyle plan....in the long run--all should be fine.