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emphysema

My doctor told me during a check-up that I problem have the onset of emphysema (25 year smoker, 41 years old) and that most people my age that have my history do.  He said it would not progress any further if I stop smoking right now.  I was surprised that he was so nonchalant about it, like it was not that big of a deal.  I thought emphysema was a death sentence, and a horrible one at that.  Any input on this?
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Avatar universal
At 45 years old, my doctor told me I was on the cross road of my life.  He said I could take the road that would lead me to a sure death from emphysema, or I could take the other road and some day see my Grandchildren born and enjoy them.

Although there is no cure for emphasema, there is a way to live a productive life with it.  STOP SMOKING! I quit smoking in 1994, and I can breathe like a baby...and when I get a cold, it remains in my sinus and doesn't go directly to my chest.  Right now I'm in this forum with a chest cold. LOL! But it's been 15 years, so I doubt it is from way back then.

On the other hand, I had a Sister in-law who wouldn't quit smoking WITH emphasema.  She passed away two years after she contacted this dread disease this past Christmas eve.  

You will live, and you will thrive...and there IS life after smoking.  I went to the American Cancer Society and attended meetings.  I wasn't the only woman there who cried over a stupid cigarette.  I missed it so much as though it were my best friend. Today I can't even sit in a smokey room without feeling disgusted.  It does get better :-)



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Avatar universal
I started smoking when I was 13 and quit when I was 38 so I smoked for 25 years.  I quit in 2001 and I am now 46 years old.  I had been clearing my throat and had a dry cough for a couple of months so my doc sent me for a CT.  He waited 3 weeks to call me in to tell me I had early stage emphysema.  He was very non-chalant as well -- he told me "This is not going to kill you, something else will get you first".  This is not a death sentence and that I should never ever smoke again.  Obviously I will not.  He also told me that cardio was very important because we can recondition our lungs and get them in better shape.  He said that if I do both of these things, my lungs will deteriorate at the same rate for a person of my age who never smoked.  I always thought it was a death sentence as well and am glad it is not.
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212161 tn?1599427282
i just got asthmas at 49, i smoked 8 years been stoped for 23 years yes they say it catches up with you , you can not stop it but you can slow it down, dont smoke it makes worse my aunt died from it and choose to keep smoking after dr told her to stop,
so plz stop and it will help you to live longer life
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Avatar universal
if you quit smoking youll be better off.I have seen to much of it myself .My aunt is dying from it and my mom has has it for at least 10 years .She still smokes she seems to not having it effect her as much.I have seen someone be diagnosed and have no syptoms and still smoke and than just over night get hit with all the syptoms at once and be dying.What I am trying to tell you is if you stop smoking you may never suffer badly from it.If you dont quit you may wake up overnight with it full blown.It creeps up on you.It scares me to death .I have been free of smokes now and I dont want any.I feel sorry for people that dont see the free side of quiting .Its a bad trap.If you quit you will be fine
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