COPD - why quit smoking?

[Chrysalis]

I was just watching a very interesting series of videos created to teach doctors about COPD-- what happens physiologically and how to treat it. If you are interested, you can view them here. 

 

But what really got my attention was one particular graph. This shows how lung function normally decreases from age 25 to age 80 (line A). If you smoke, your lung function goes down MUCH faster to where by age 65 or 70 you really can't get enough oxygen (line C). However, if you quit smoking at age 50, you can stop the accelerated loss of lung function (line B ). Seems like a good reason to quit. 

 

The take-home message is: quit smoking or be prepared to spend your retirement years on an oxygen tank (YUCK!)

 

[El Bandito]

Thanks Chrys - I will look these up. My Mom quit at 70. Hopefully - can head off oxygen for a while.

[Doreensfree]

Too late for hubby.....16 hours a day attached to a tank.....

C.o.p.d.....it robs you of your life so slowly.....

Tony's was diagnosed.14 years ago.....it's took this long to get to this degree...

And is still worsening....

If your still smokkng and reading this thread.....

Stop now....before this could be you....

[Nicole Diver]

Scary stuff and no one still smoking is safe from it.

[Colleen]

My Nana quit at age 50....when I was born...she has moderate COPD...which means she has chronic short of breath and her quality of life has decreased significantly in the past couple of years.  Quit now...Please?!

[Doreensfree]

If your still smoking.....just wanted to say.....

My mum...had 1 massive stroke....it wasn,t fatal.....she was paralysed all down one side...and in a wheel chair....

She died 2 years later still smoking .....

The time to stop is now....

[Rob]

Wow, powerful posts. We're so blind when we're addicted.

[Tyme2B]

My brother was diagnosed with COPD at age 50. He was told by the Specialists he must quit smoking. He just could not quit...I think he started smoking at age 14. At age 55 he was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. He still just could not quit. The addiction was so strong he was a closet smoker even during chemo & radiation. He didn't make it through the year & died at age 55. This addiction is powerful & deadly.

[Nancy]

My brother was diagnosed with COPD at age 50. He was told by the Specialists he must quit smoking. He just could not quit...I think he started smoking at age 14. At age 55 he was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. He still just could not quit. The addiction was so strong he was a closet smoker even during chemo & radiation. He didn't make it through the year & died at age 55. This addiction is powerful & deadly.

So very sorry for your loss, Tyme.  I lost my brother the same way...

[Chrysalis]

Oh, I'm so very sorry to hear this, Thyme and Nancy. Losing a sibling is so hard! I recently lost a brother to melanoma.

 

When I hear stories like yours it makes me appreciate the fact that I WAS able to quit! It took me several tries. There were times when I thought that I, too, might be so addicted that I just couldn't quit. But I kept trying, my doctor helped, and this online support group helped. As they say, "There but for the grace of God  go I." 

 

If you are thinking of quitting, if you did quit but then relapsed, if you quit but you're feeling shaky on some days, please remember and believe 2 things: 1) if you continue smoking it WILL diminish your quality of life and it WILL eventually kill you, and 2) you are NOT too addicted to quit! You CAN do it! Just stick with us here and don't give up. 

[JackiMac]

Such scary reading, its frightening to think how many times in the past I read posts and stories just like these and thought to myself, "it will never happen to me" so glad I finally saw sense and made the decision to quit, my mum watched her auntie die from Lung Cancer, she smoked woodbines from when she was a child and did not quit when told she had cancer, its terrifying to realise just how powerful the addiction is, I was dealing with a customer today whose wife has just come out of Hospital after being diagnosed with COPD, waiting for a wheelchair to be assigned and is on Oxygen 24/7 poor guy was in tears.  I do not want to end up losing my life to nicotine 

[cpk]

Wow, powerful posts. We're so blind when we're addicted.

Congratulations on your quit...

[Markus]

Wow, powerful posts. We're so blind when we're addicted.

 

Man, you said it all right there. So blind...

 

These posts are very hard for me to read.

 

Heartbreaking...

[Nicole Diver]

If your still smoking.....just wanted to say.....

My mum...had 1 massive stroke....it wasn,t fatal.....she was paralysed all down one side...and in a wheel chair....

She died 2 years later still smoking .....

The time to stop is now....

Doreen I'm sorry to hear that.  It's crazy what kind of hold this addiction can hold.  Robs people of their loved ones.

[Katgirl]

@MATINA90, your post sounds like an Ad, especially since you double posted it, and it’s your first. and only, post. Not sure whether that’s allowed. Seems more the kind of thing to PM someone, and only if they asked you for the info.

Edited July 7, 2021 by Katgirl

[AceWhite]

2 hours ago, MATINA90 said:

I started on COPD Herbal treatment from Ultimate Life Clinic, the treatment worked incredibly for my lungs condition. I used the herbal treatment for almost 4 months, it reversed my COPD. My severe shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness gradually disappeared. I can breath much better and It feels comfortable!

I used oxygen captured at sea level in a dandelion decorated urn made from the shell of a unicorn tusk- it worked

Edited July 7, 2021 by jillar
removed website address from quote

[Katgirl]

Now, if I ever get COPD, I will PM you for more detailed info on how to acquire THAT equipment. Very useful info. Thanks, Ace!