COPD life expectancy if you quit smoking?

Question

I was wondering if anyone knows someone with COPD. My mom was just diagnosed, I don't know exactly what percentage of her lung is diseased, I just know it's in one lung, and she is now on Advair. If she manages to quit smoking, will she be ok? I mean, will she live more than just a few years? I can't imagine losing her, she's only 56. My mother in law just passed away a few months ago at 62 from lung cancer, I can't even handle this right now. I AM going to make sure somehow she quits smoking, but does anyone know if it truly helps and will prolong her life a lot? I want her to live to a ripe old age of 85. I don't want her to just have 5 or 8 years. Thanks.

Answer 1

LISTEN to me VERY closely. I have COPD. I have it spread thru out BOTH of my lungs. I am 60 years old. I am on oxygen 24/7. I am on many drugs. YOU didn't ask about my health, you came on here and asked a question regarding your mother and I am going to answer your question.

This DR. FRANK is SO INCORRECT. The ONLY TWO things I agree with that he said is, "There are not any drugs that can improve COPD". And the second item was, "your mother has to quit smoking".

He referred to inhaled steroids such as Advair only being used on extremely bad cases of COPD in the U.K. with less than half their lung capacity. THAT could be true in the U.K. BUT here in the U.S. every other person is on ADVAIR. There are different strengths of Advair and it is still very widely used here.............
He had no right to scare you with "things are already very bad."

IF your mom has COPD in ONE lung and the other lung is fine, she could live until she is 102. You only need ONE lung to live. IF the COPD lung is that bad, they can remove it. Your mother's prognosis is EXCELLENT if you are privy to everything and know this is the truth..........I would give anything for one good lung.

Your mom can get a lot of help to stop smoking. I am sure her doctors would give her the drugs and whatever she needs to quit. BUT she will have to do it on her own. You cannot MAKE her do it. My daughter still smokes and she watched her grandmother die and now I have it. You just DON'T make a smoker quit...........

Your mom having COPD is worlds away from lung cancer. She has a second chance at life, a lot of people do not......I hope she learns that.

Answer 2

Copd Life Expectancy

Answer 3

She's lucky in some respects, I have COPD,, I use sprivia and asmenex (cortisteroid) daily I only have 30% lung capacity
I have oxygen as a PRN thing > I'm almost 67.

I do cardio/pulmonary rehab, I can't say enough about the program

If you rehab for a few hours a week, you have an 87% better chance of staying out of the hospital

There is a statement about excersise that might be an incentive

~If you can walk 1/4 mile, odds are you will live 3 more years ~

I do a mile in 27 min



The first year I had problems, I was in the hosp 5 times

I have 11 more days to make it a year w/o going to the hospital

Rehab cost me $362 a year One trip to the Hospital is over $500.

If you get a good rehab like I did, They have a pulmanory Tech, A cardio tech, A respiratory RN and a monitor that goes to a DR if you have trouble

IMHO you can't beat the price

Answer 4

My father died recently, with COPD as one of the causes. He was 89, Diagnosed w/ emphysema 30 years ago.

He was a carpenter, worked with asbestos, and was on oxygen 24/7 the last 2 years of his life. He was also a smoker.It was only in the last 3-4 years he had problems catching his breath.
So, she could be around a LONG time.

Stopping smoking NOW is the best thing ANYBODY could do for their health,

Was she diagnosed by a pulmonary specialist?

You might consider a visit to one for a thorough evaluation. There are inhalers which do a world of good.

Run this by her primary care doctor.

I hope 20 years from now you can tell me she's doing well.

Answer 5

No way to predict her prognosis, but to have any chance of getting anywhere she must stop smoking NOW! I like your optimism but unfortunately even when given this diagnosis, and even if SHE, rather than you where talking about giving up smoking, the chances of her succeeding are not much better than 14%! So you will certainly have your work cut out.

No drugs improve the existing lung damage in COPD. In UK inhaled steroid are now only recommended for COPD patients whose FEV1 has dropped to <50% of normal. If this was the criteria used for her therapy decision then things are already very bad.

No sense at all beating about the bush, Ignoring therapy , none of which does more then decrease exacerbation's her only chance is to stop at once.

Answer 6

You sound so caring, she's lucky to have you as a son. COPD can be mild, moderate or severe. So it depends what level your mother has. Giving up smoking won't help her lungs recover but it will slow down the deterioration and if she looks after herself and gets proper treatment she might well live to a ripe old age. But I think you should go with your mum on her next appointment and ask the experts.

Answer 7

There is no set amount of time to live...depending on her life style, and that she quits and manages to stay that way will only improve things...there are treatments and centers that help manage the copd , make sure she gets all the help she can.

Answer 8

Life expectancy varies. It all depends on how bad your COPD is, what diseases make up your COPD, if you have any other health concerns and your current age.

I can tell you that if you enroll in a pulmonary rehab program, it can increase your quality of life and may ever extend your life.

Answer 9

COPD is a slow killing disease!If the person stop smoking(it's a must!)whit normal medication,(Advair,Albuterol,etc..)you can get to the 80's.Go to web sites and check what really COPD.You can learn a lot and show your Mom, what cigarettes can do for the health

Answer 10

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