I am fairly new to this board. My husband Val has COPD. I come here to learn as I feel our Dr's are not great at giving us info. We were really in the dark about so many things and our questions were never answered. That is our opinion. Well, here we have learned so much from everyone. keep coming here and learn about your dad. One thing I have observed is that a LOT of people feel COPD is caused from smoking and it is your fault because you smoked. I could be wrong but that is what I feel. TODAY I am feeling very grateful for our lives and KNOW each day is a blessing. COPD is pretty rough but we must focus on the good in our lives. So many here teach that daily. I am so grateful for them!!!

Hi, I'm newly diagnosed with COPD and amI hope you and your husband are doing ok. I am a non smoker. I have never smoked. So its not always something that affects smokers.

Good luck to your Dad Sabrina and Val27 I hope you and your husbandare doing ok. IIt's certainly not easy xx

Sabrina, Prayers for your dad and hope he is ok... as far as your questions, this is just my personal opinion. Yes, COPD is more common than lung cancer, but it is almost unknown. Must doctors still get it mixed up with asthma, give an inhaler, and send you on your way...some, like the comment from val, say your bad habits caused this disease, give you an inhaler, and maintain you every 3 months. Recently there were several "challenges" for ALS, which is a terrible disease, but there has never been a challenge, or fund raising for copd that I am aware of. Just in the past few years have any real studies even been done, for emphysema or bronchitis.
I just do not think we "squeek " loud enough, so we do not get any grease. Dr. Says you have Copd, so many years to live, take your meds and be good....other than LVRS or transplant, there are no options, and those have just come out in the 90's. . Why is this disease tossed to the corner? I do not know, but I feel it is because it is an old person's disease (most time) and it is cheaper and easier to keep you on a med or two until you die, rather than actually having scientist see if it can be prevented ,, or reversed. Taking in smoking, chemical exposure, genetic factors, ect, once you are diagnosed, that is that, unless you do the LVRS or transplant which is just trading one set of problems for a whole lot of problems. Just my opinion.....

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/basics/causes/con-20032017


"Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

"In about 1 percent of people with COPD, the disease results from a genetic disorder that causes low levels of a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin. Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) is made in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream to help protect the lungs. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency can affect the liver as well as the lungs. Damage to the liver can occur in infants and children, not just adults with long smoking histories. For adults with COPD related to AAt deficiency, treatment options are the same as those for people with more common types of COPD. Some people can be treated by replacing the missing AAt protein, which may prevent further damage to the lungs."

http://www.lung.org/about-us/our-impact/top-stories/november-is-copd-awareness_1.html
November is COPD Awareness Month

(November 9, 2009)

Did you know that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.? Or that it affects more than 12 million Americans? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis is a term used to describe the obstruction of airflow. As part of our commitment to lung health, the American Lung Association has created new tools for COPD patients and partnering with others to help people with COPD live healthier, more active lives.

Some of these statistics need to come with age designations.
Unless we live to be 105 something in our system is going to give out.
I'm sorry for those of you that are younger but not for myself.
I quit smoking almost 30 years ago but have COPD from smoking heavily before that. I've also had colon cancer possibly aggravated
by a fatty diet. I certainly enjoyed both and don't feel sorry for myself now nor do I intend to prolong my life.by any extrodinary means.
Sometimes we need to accept what comes along deservedly or not.

Generally speaking, people could care less about this or that disease. Now if one of their own is affected or the media want's to hype it , that's usually an entirely different story. For COPD (as many of us will testify) people will say "you look so good - you can't be sick". In fact they'll probably keep saying that while they're tossing dirt on your face.
BJ has it right, we don't have enough "squeak"...

Hugs,
Dennis

Last year the Center for Disease Control announced that COPD is now the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. (It became the 3rd leading cause of death ahead of schedule. It wasn't predicted to be 3rd until 2010.) So yes, COPD is significantly more common than lung cancer.

In light of the fact smoking accounts for 85% of COPD cases, there is a stigma attached to it. However, it seems to me copd research has picked up in recent years and I hope that is an ongoing trend.

I agree that the attitude of~ you brought it on yourself~...
is exactly why there are no great guns going after research
as in other diseases.

And I agree that I do see things changing slowly but surely and
that is good news. Perhaps in 10 more or maybe 15 we'll see
some progress.

Shining a brighter light on COPD just might result in waking up
some of the younger smokers to the facts so that they can be
MOTIVATED TO QUIT SMOKING !!!!!!!! And avoid COPD or
even some of the more severe results of years and years of abuse.
I notice none of us here try to place blame anywhere but right
on ourselves !!!

We all need to SQUEAK as loud as we can.

You're right!
Obviously, teaching future generations about the dangers will help.
Still, those who have COPD or will get it, they should not be ignored.
I guess this hits me close to home

maybe if we start a trend like dumping cow chips over our head or giving a donation to a charity for finding a cure for COPD we may raise alot of money like people did by dumping cold water on their head

Since cancer is considered the 2nd leading COD in the US, not sure if all the cancers it includes would make it more common that COPD. Sorry, Sorry, I don't have the exact statistics.

No fundraisers that I am aware of for COPD. Public awareness is done in the form of TV commercials for the meds to treat. And the drugs to stop smoking such as Chantix, patches, etc.

There is an ongoing campaign by the COPD foundation to raise public awareness but just not sure how this helps without the funding to back more research.

What I have noticed in the last few months, is that there are less ads to stop smoking, which is not the best thing but there is a twofold reason for COPD that needs to be made aware to the public.

Actually it is done everyday but we just don't recognize that is what we are reading or seeing. I am in an ongoing genetic program directed at the cause of COPD and respiratory disorders.

There, of course, is the leading reason. Defining those that have Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. This is a sure reason to get COPD and usually very young.

They are also discovering other markers that could define the proclivity to get COPD. But what I am most concerned about is what I mentioned above.

We read about it and we see it daily. It is the environment. Look out your window is the day so clear that you can see forever or is it hazy that you have come to expect.

Here in South Texas there are lots of gas well burn offs that is releasing carbon dioxide and lord know what else into the environment. It doesn't have to be released this way but Money Talks.
Smoking is a terrible thing for you to do to your body but the EPA is compounding your problem and there is not much that we can do. Environmentalists aren't the most well loved creatures and I admire that they just keep on going.

Did I share too much ::))

Anna

No.

We all do make one big mistake! We don't yell like hell that all the fines and settlements imposed on the cigarette industry hasn't been spent on research and free medical care for people dealing with this issue!

Anna- you didn't share too much. I like information!