I am 54yo female. I have been exposed to seconduct haND smoke all my life.
I have active uncontrolled asthma, multilingual PEs answer jackhammer esophagus I cough like a smoker and
My tests all come back COPD! My doctors say only smokers can get COPD so my diagnosis is asthma
Has anyone else had this problem it makes a difference to the insurance people.
Their Nuts,My brother was born w asthma, he has COPD NOW! AND my mother n law had COPD from the environment,she NEVER smoked a cig in her life!
Get a second opinion.
Hi it is unusual for non smokers to get copd, but not unheard off particularly when you have been exposed to second hand smoke for a long time. It can also rarely be genetic. Your doctor is talking a load of old tosh!
Ask your doctor how people in the 3rd world get it - from the smoke of fires in their homes! Find another doctor. x
My opinion exactly I have never smoked by now I can hardly catch my breath
That's true Hypercat,And agreed.It's very unusual to get the genetic one but it has been found...MY dad had EPHESEMA n never smoked a day in his life But my Ephsema is from me smoking for 40 years ! Now my mom smoked n prob gave the EPHESEMA to my dad,...*Environmental. ..Second hand smoke* My dad had a major stroke n had a anueryrism in the brain...so EPHESEMA wasn't on the top priority of illnesses at the time, 3 doctors said. .He wouldn't make through the night....They didn't know my dad! My dad was VERY HEALTHY until that point! He ate rabbit foods n lots of veggies n lots of chicken, fish,n very little fats! He walked every day,n I walked w him until I married! The other Doctors in FTW said ..He wouldn't last throughout that night n no need for Therapy,it was of time! We didn't give up,n took him to VA HOSPITAL IN DALLAS,and they did therapy on him n said....All of our Veterans deserved a chance....(He was A P.O.W.in the Army for 9mths,)He was was waking again,but no speech except THE ALZ language The DRS said it was brought on by The stroke! THEY SAID....anyways get back to the COPD doctors jus guess alot I think? Science/Technology is a hard Subject to understand N I think Doctors jus don't know sometimes!I'm sorry I'm jus blabbing on about her stuff ,But I would get a Second Opinion! Like Hypercat said....BTY..he made it another 5 years after his diagnosis n when my mom died from a Massive Heart Attack he gave up,N passed away a year later!THEY WERE MARRIED 50+YEARS!
I mean walking n other stuff.
Hi Nancy
My understanding is that most cases of Emphysema are caused by smoking, but by no means all - eg particulates such as smoke from diesel engines and some types of dust.
Problem for sufferers is that the common assumption by the public is that it is through smoking so we don't get much sympathy as we are deemed to have brought it on ourselves.
As for insurance, yes it will make a bit of a difference but for most companies it all depends on the distance you can walk and the number of different meds you have each day.
Your doc is very wrong! My mom never smoked a day in her life second hand smoke from my dad gave her copd and pulminary fibrosis which is slowly killing her
Apparently, approximately 25% of people with COPD never smoked! I read that stat a long time ago, can't remember where exactly but will try and find it.
Hi Nancy, non smokers can be diagnosed with COPD as you have been.
COPD is not caused by cigarette smoking alone.
Bakers can get it from bread flour
Potters can get it from mixing clay glazes.
Builders can get it from mixing concrete, the list goes on
Silk screen printers
Painters & Decorators
etc
But sometimes people can have hazardous occupations as well as smoke and the combination will not be helpful in avoiding lung damage which can lead to COPD.
In addition Asthma when it becomes chronic to the point of causing lung damage can tip the scales into COPD.
So COPD is not caused by smoking alone but certainly smoking causes lung damage, including passive smoking but usually IMO it is a combination of exposure to substances which can lead to lung damage. Smoking is just one but non the less many people who have been smokers have an increased chance of getting COPD.
As far as your insurance goes, not sure why you ask really as you say your tests come back COPD, So regardless of what your doctor says if you have copies of tests that say COPD that is what you supply to the insurance people. Although it is most odd if your doctor disagrees with a COPD diagnosis when the tests indicate that it is.
If your doc is convinced its not COPD then should you not be having further tests to determine what the problem actually is?
I agree!
Approximately 25% of people diagnosed with COPD are non-smokers. I read these stats a long time ago and will attempt to find them and post them on here.
Agreed w that!