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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Early emphysema & normal FEV
Answered by
CO
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Early emphysema & normal FEV
by Canadaconcern, May 31, 2009 02:01PM
I am 46 years old and grew up in a smoking household. I also smoked for 15 years and quit 11 years ago. Recently, I have had several colds (cough, no mucus, shortness of breath). My Mother has emphysema (due to smoking) so I requested a spirometry. My results came back normal range (FEV and FEV/FVC both close to 100%) but the FEF25%-75% was 79%. My Doctor said that indicated some small airway inflammation. However, she said it did not indicate early COPD and told me to rest assured that if I did not smoke and lived a healthy lifestyle I should not worry about getting COPD. For some reason, I am still concerned and found this site and was hoping to get some feedback.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Jun 03, 2009 11:27AM
, Jun 03, 2009 11:27AMTo: Canadaconcern
The FEF 25%-75% is thought to be a sensitive measure of small airway airflow.However it shows marked variability in studies of large samples of health people and the 95%confidence limits for normal values are so large at to detect disease in a given individual. In other words, it is not a very reliable test for detecting emphysema/COPD. The FVC and FEV1/FVC are much better prognostic tests. Ignore it. Your doctor is right in assuring you that, if you do not smoke and live an otherwise healthy lifestyle, you need not worry about getting COPD.
Note this, however. Because of your family history of emphysema, your exposure to second hand smoke while growing up and your own smoking for 15 years, your risk of getting COPD is higher than for persons who have not had those exposures. Risk is not the same of chances of getting the disease. It just means that you should never smoke again, not continuously breathe the smoke of someone close who does smoke and do not take a job that will expose you to polluted or industrially toxic air. You made a very good choice to stop smoking.
Good luck
Note this, however. Because of your family history of emphysema, your exposure to second hand smoke while growing up and your own smoking for 15 years, your risk of getting COPD is higher than for persons who have not had those exposures. Risk is not the same of chances of getting the disease. It just means that you should never smoke again, not continuously breathe the smoke of someone close who does smoke and do not take a job that will expose you to polluted or industrially toxic air. You made a very good choice to stop smoking.
Good luck
