fatality rate

[timot28]

hope I'm not out of thread - but do studies show that the early effects of smoking:  tobacco voice,  smokers (productive) cough always develop into cancers or COPD,  Is it true that only 10%of somkers develop it or is that a pipe dream -   I know the attitude - I'd like to know some facts...

[lynnkay]

I believe it is more like 25% of smokers are likely to develop COPD. I have ran across that percentage in my research of COPD. I was diagnosed with moderate stage COPD in Oct. 07. The chief complaint I had upon diagnosis was the shortness of breath and tightness in chest. There was some coughing and definitely mucus. I thought it was asthma. Never dreamed it would be COPD. I was a smoker of 35 yrs. Definitely smoking is the leading cause of COPD. But, other things can cause it as well. I worked around vats of hot glue, silicon, fiberglass, dust, etc. Those things helped contribute to my lung disease I know. Plus, there is a deficiency that can cause COPD. When you are diagnosed with COPD, you are checked for this deficiency. I did not have the deficiency. I also believe that my lung disease has been inherited. It runs very strongly in my family. And not all of us were smokers. My mother's father died with lung cancer. Not caused by smoking. But, it was melanoma skin cancer and it went to the lungs. My mother's brother died with COPD and congestive heart failure. His COPD was totally work related. My mother passed away in Aug. 07 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A terrible terminal lung disease. She died 4 mths. after a lung transplant.My mother never smoked a day in her life. Idiopathic means cause unknown. They did lung biopsy on my mother. The biopsy was inconclusive. They could not determine what caused mother's lung disease.  My brother was diagnosed 6 months before me with COPD. He was a smoker just as me. I know my COPD is self inflicted. But, my former work environment and family history of lung disease, I know full well are contributing factors . I was smoking at the time of diagnosis and a little past diagnosis. I could have stopped 20 yrs. ago and still developed COPD. So, a person that quits smoking years previously, can still possibly get COPD years later. The best thing to do is to quit though. Not trying to give you the attitude. I understand all too well that attitude, too. But, now COPD is a way of life for me. I am not now who I once was. COPD can sometimes develop into lung cancer. I have found that in my research as well. Heart problems are also a part of COPD in some patients. The heart and lungs work hand in hand. With COPD patients don't get enough oxygen flowing through their bodies. So, the heart has to work extra hard. These are some of the facts that I do know about COPD. But, what I do know more than the facts, is the reality of COPD. Laughing even takes my breath away. Upon waking in the mornings, I cough for at least a good hour. Trying to get up what feels like mucus. Sometimes, it comes up and sometimes not. I clear my throat a lot. During the winter I get sick a lot. In the past year, I have had pneumonia, pleurisy 3 times and several bouts of bronchitis. And I once was a person that rarily got ill. During the summer when it is hot and humid, breathing is very difficult for me. Even if I stay indoors with AC. And the fatigue is unbelievable. I once was a person loaded with energy. And with any disease there is depression. You worry because you have a disease and also you are no longer the person you once were. Thus, the depression. I hope I have answered some of your questions.