How long can you live with COPD?
813166
Pretty scarey stuff. \n\nI had never heard of COPD when the pulmonologist said I had it. I also was diagnosed with the asthma. According to all the info I could find, COPD was either emphysema or chronic bronchitis. The pulmonologist assured me I had asthma COPD. Then I tried to find information on the life expectancy; all I could find was that it's the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. and did, indeed, sound as though my time left was seriously short. After a lot of exploration and talking with others having COPD, I determined that everyone is different. Johnny Carson died of emphysema at 85. He had had it for at least the past 20-30 years.\n\nI was diagnosed three years ago and the doctor suggested from my history of pneumonia, colds, etc, that I had had this condition for many years. In 1996 I had to have a company physical and flunked the spirometry test. I was told that people often have the condition for years before it is properly diagnosed. As HMOs are prone to do, they determined a specialist was unnecessary and the family practitioner prescribed inhalers, steroids, asthma medication, etc. for every incident of flareups. \n\nI would have told you three years ago my time was very limited. Would have bet no more than a year or so. Actually, now that my medication has been adjusted to necessary levels, I feel better than I have in years. I went from oxygen 24/7 to now only when I sleep and exercise. I go to the healthplex and use the treadmill and pool often. I amaze myself at how much I have improved with a little exercise. \n\nMy doctor does recommend I keep my pnuemonia and flu shots up to date and steer clear of anyone with a cold to lessen the chance of exacerbation. The asthma medication can have a side effect of depression, so be alert to that. We especially don't need to slump into a depression. I do take an anti-depressant because finding out I had the condition really hit me hard and coupled with the medication, well, I need it. Attitude is a big determinant in COPD's severity on a person.\n\nAbsolutely no one can tell you how much time you have left whether because of COPD or anything else. You're not going to be doing any more mountain climbing or run the Boston Marathon, but it is so important to live each day to the fullest.  There's still plenty you can do, and you will probably live a long, productive life as long as you aren't your own worst enemy and just give up.
1039629
It can vary, depending on the severity, the triggers, your medication, your general health.\n\nI have gone with several minutes to several hours.  \n\nBut when I changed my work environment, I went from 10-15 episodes a day to 10-15 a year and that is only if I have a cold or something.\n\nUse your emergency inhaler.  If you get no relief, call an ambulance, they should have a nebulizer on board and if that does not work, they can get you to a hospital.   Don't panic.  It will only make it worse.\n\nBeen there...17 years and counting.
1134683
A minimum of 10 years if caught early and treated immediately.  Please remember that these life expectancies are based on averages and can be influenced by so many things such as the person's desire to survive, events to look forward to, general  health before the illness, etc.  Hope is the biggest determining factor, so never ever lose hope!
210453
go see a pulmonary doctor! there are amazing treatments for copd now.. there are things from broncodialators to corticosteroids that they can give you.. but only pfts and a pulmonary specialist shoud set the regimin u need
1052970
hmmm... do you know what medications she is using right now? is she on oxygen? \npeople with emphysema -- we are EXTRA careful that we don't OVER-oxygenate them. you see, emphysema is classifed as Chronice obstructive pulmonary disease -- apparently, people diagnosed with COPD, they can inhale the oxygen -- the oxygen is then converted to carbon dioxide, but they cannot exhale all those carbon dioxide out because of their condition. so all those CO2 are trapped in their lungs. we usually limit oxygen among COPD's to up to 2 liters per minute only -- that's the maximum. \n\ni had an experience before in a hospital wherein a patient was on 0.5 liters per minute of oxygen -- apparently, somebody stupid tampered with her oxygen and put it to 6 liters per minute... and this caused hallucinations -- she started talking like a child and started talking about babies -- really off. so im guessing that it could have been that your mother was feeling out of breath because of her condition and she thinks that she will breathe more effectively if she were to raise the flow from maximum of 2 to more (maybe even 12) and that could have caused it. \n\nif she is on oxygen, follow the doctor's advise and never tamper with the oxygen flowmeter -- consider O2 as medicine -- it has adverse effects if you overdose on it. i mean the air that we breathe right now is not even pure oxygen. it's only 21% oxygen, the rest are nitrogen and other gases. too much oxygen can kill (for a normal person or COPD patients)
343612
this is an interesting question, because even if someone has a great diet and excercises and does not drink and smoke could die early and the opposite can live till 102...it really depends on the genes in this aspect and heredatary circumstances fall into place here too....but you can control it the best that you can..its hard to believe sometimes when you hear stories of people who chain smoke and drink all the time, never excercise and die in their 90's and on the contrary someone who does all the right things and dies of a massive stroke..just do the best you can and thinking positively and laugh alot, these are also factors to make you live longer..look at the all the comedians and conductors, they live a long time, i mean some of them dont look healthy, but they have what it takes..maybe its all psychological...
197853
I cannot find any information that links COPD with TB. Sorry.
657540
I live in Texas and my lungs still give me fits.\n\nI don't know if there is a state that is easier on us.\nWhen you have COPD there's all kind of triggers out there.\n\nIf you aren't already a member --go to COPD International and ask this question.
463715
theorically, I will live about 97 years, a normal good-excercised person on a normal country, will live about 89 years.\n<I will skip the scientific explanation.>\n\nthe answer should be: bones and organs decompose, it is totally imposible (at least now until 1000 years) that a person lives that much, heart and other muscular organs get old, and wasted, think about it.\n\n<altough I do this for free, 10 points as best answer wouldnt be bad>
138379
Find your own pace.  Some people like to hurry and for someone with COPD, it can use up your energy quickly.  Find your own pace, one that works for you.  My uncle was in his late 70s, had COPD, yet accomplished more in a day than most people younger than him.  I asked him how he did it and he said he found his own pace and stuck to it.  The other part of my answer is to follow doctor's instructions, get your flu shot every year and try not to hang around with people who are sick with respiratory viruses. Use a clean room humidifier, especially during sleeping hours, do not overheat your home during the cold months (cool moist air is healthier than hot dry air).  Do NOT sit around doing nothing.  Keep busy doing what you can do (at your own pace of course) and do NOT dwell on that you can no longer do. Depression can do more harm than COPD if you let it run your life.  One thing I have noticed with some people who have a chronic illness.....they get too much into themselves.  It doesn't just happen to people with resp problems either.  I would suggest that each day you do one thing for someone else....make a phone call, write a letter...visit...etc.  If you are "crafty"...make something....if you bake or cook....make something.  By the way, nutrition is very important for you.  Small, frequent, nutrious meals and snacks are needed.  Good luck!  You have some good quality life to live, do your best to live it!
676594
Realize that you have only one life to live, and you don't want to hurt the health of your body permanently by continuing to smoke, and understand and accept that quitting smoking now would still leave you with damage to your respiratory system but at least it is not too severe and you haven't developed cancer of the lungs or mouth, which will happen if you continue to smoke and once you have cancer it reduces your life-span.
668393
the answer is 6-10 minutes if u are healthy, the question was how long u can LIVE not stay conscious. therefore the body organs and cells can last from 6-10 minutes.furthermore 4-6 minutes without minutes without breathing the cells begin to deteriorate, then 6-10 minutes without breathing the cells begin to die. u can only be resucitated after 10 minutes ONLY if your core temperature is well below normal hypothermic.
387954
I was diagnosed with COPD ten yrs ago and here I am, lol.  I am not going anywhere till I say so  LMAO.  But really, it depends on how bad it is not how you got it.  Take your meds like you supposed to stop smoking if you do and keep from getting a cold or sinus infections.  good luck
1046597
copd is a generic term for mulit diseases C=chronic, O= obstructive, P= pulmonary, D= disease.  usually patients with copd have more difficultly getting the co2 out of there systems, rather than getting enough air in.  i have always heard up until just lately you need to watch the amount of concentrated o2 that a copd patients uses.  pneumonia and respiratory diseases are more common, people with copd usually fatigue quicker and are on some type of o2 and breathing treatments.
679585
Yes.  COPD includes various lung conditions, such as emphysema, broncheolitis, even asthma is considered COPD. Sarcoidosis also involves airway obstruction that prohibits sufficient exhalation to allow enough inhalation. There are many different lung diseases, many idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. My disease is yet to be diagnosed, and there's a difference of opinion between doctors/hospitals.  If you or someone you know has a breathing problem, do see a doctor ASAP.  In the beginning I was told I had adult onset asthma and emphysema.  I believed that for three years until getting much worse and finally seeking a second opinion.
607341
The average life expectancy does not look very scary (although it's bad) - 68. If you look at males and females separately, it gives you goose bumps if you are a man - 58-59 for men (was 57.5 in 1994)! Women live about 14 years longer - 72-73 (data from around 2003).\n\nAnd even if you're wealthy, but drink and smoke as much as a normal Russian does, you won't live long!
690763
End stage of any disease means the disease is terminal and you don't have too long left to live without serious treatment.  Don't panic, there are options.  Nine years ago I had end stage pulmonary disease and less than a year to live.  I recieved a double lung transplant and am doing well.  I also have a brother, who like you is facing end stage liver disease and has been informed that he has no more than two years to live.  He is at this moment being worked up for a liver transplant.  Don't give up hope, talk to your doctor about what options may be available ro you and very importantly what youcan do to otherwise maintain your health.  Whatever happens you will need your strength.  Good luck and if the transplant route is available to you and you want more information or moral support, please feel free to contact me.