Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. This disease is characterized by increasing breathlessness. (COPD Foundation website https://www.copdfoundation.org/)
The stages and symptoms of COPD are:
Mild. Your airflow is somewhat limited, but you don’t notice it much. You cough and have mucus every once in a while.
Moderate. Your airflow is worse. You’re often short of breath after doing something active. This is the point where most people notice symptoms and get help.
Severe. Your airflow and shortness of breath are worse. You can't do normal exercise anymore. Your symptoms flare up frequently, also called an exacerbation.
Very severe: Your airflow is limited, your flares are more regular and intense, and your quality of life is poor.
(From: What Happens When You Have COPD? WebMD Medical Reference https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/qa/what-are-the-four-stages-of-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease...)
Let me first state that this is not a post complaining about my present life or situation.
I brought this upon myself with the choices I made those many years ago.
That being said ......
I, like others here, live daily with COPD.
I am now beginning to have more and more episodes that are diminishing my quality of life.
I make more trips to the doctors office and the ER than I used to.
I have to use my nebulizer and inhaler more often than I used to.
These are the facts that all COPD sufferers live with.
We have good days and we have bad days.
To all of the new quitters out there, please stick with your quit.
Your life depends on you getting rid of those death sticks.
Your lungs will thank you so much for doing this.
I encourage you to read our past blogs.
Learn from our experiences.
Most of our blogs give you the problems caused by smoking.
I won't list them here as they are all laid out in our blogs.
How do you quit?
Each quit is that persons journey. No two are alike. What worked for me might not work for you.
Find what does work for you and use it.
One second, one minute, one hour, one day.
It all adds up.
Like the journey of one thousand miles, it begins with that first step.
One step, and then another, will get you to where you want to be.
Larry
