Inquiring Minds Want to Know: What COPD Topics Interest You Most?

Deborah,

What a wonderful invitation on such an important subject! I hope everyone takes the time to leave a message in your forum!

I have a suggestion, content regarding traveling with COPD (best places to go, or destinations that are accommodating to persons with COPD), along with “must know” information before you go anywhere. Also, maybe information on myths versus facts regarding COPD.

I have friends who smoke, and I have visited your page with suggestions for quitting smoking. I’m interested in exactly how quitting impacts someone who already has COPD.

I don’t know too much about COPD, but I’m wondering how likely it is that a person who has asthma will also develop COPD.

Jace, thank you the support of my blog.

Jen: Actually, travel and cOPD is on my list of to do’s, given to me in my recent review, so I will include these ideas in the articles.

Susan: While quitting smoking will not CURE COPD, it can slow the progression of the disease and hopefully add to years of survival. But, I must emphasize, that once the damage is done, it is done. I have seen many patients in the hospital dying from the disease that quit smoking 20 years ago. I am sure if they would have continued to smoke, they would not have made it another 20 years, so it most likely bought them extra time.

Paula: Asthma is not one of the causes of COPD, alghough it is possible to have both. Many people with asthma get it in early childhood. People with COPD develop it much later in life and it is usually caused by smoking. With asthma, people usually are symptom free between attacks. With COPD, people are rarely free of symptoms. I will blog more about this entire topic tomorrow, so stay tuned, and thanks for the comment as it gave me an idea for a blog post.

For those of you who made suggestions, I will write them in my log book and include relevant topics in upcoming articles. Thanks, it helps to know what readers want.

I don’t have COPD and don’t smoke but do have asthma — for over 20 years now. I guess I’d want to know more about who is at risk for COPD. I’d also want to know about how to help families cope.

What risk does someone who just smokes from time to time at parties have of getting COPD? Someone who might smoke once a month or so, in other words. I think there are a lot of those ‘I never buy a pack but bum at parties’ types out there.

Karin, I did a bit of research before answering your question. In a study that was conducted from 1970 to 2002, 42,000 people participated in a study to determine the effects of smoking on heart disease and lung cancer. Those who smoked 1-4 cigarettes per day were 3 times more likely to die from heart disease or lung cancer than those who did not smoke at all. The study also talks about the fact that many people have been led to believe that light smoking does not cause health problems. Unfortunately, many of those people are dead wrong, literally. Although the study did not include COPD, there is a link between COPD and lung cancer, so I am sure that if people who smoke even a small amount can get heart disease and lung cancer, then they certainly can get COPD. Here is a link to the study, if you want more information:

http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/health_news/300905lightsmoking.html

Hope that answers your question, and this is a great idea for a blog or article.

Thanks,
Deborah

Amanda

Here is a link to one of my articles about risk factors for COPD:

http://copd.about.com/od/causesofcopd/a/copdcauses.htm

And here is a link to an article I wrote about coping/living with COPD:

http://copd.about.com/od/livingwithcopd/a/living.htm

Hope that helps. I am actually planning some more articles related to coping with the disease for caregivers and family members, so stay tuned. It is on my to do list.

thanks for your comment,
Deborah

Wow, that’s really interesting! Thanks for looking into it. Makes you think twice about even smoking occasionally, doesn’t it?

Yes, it does indeed.

I was just released from the hospital today after a 5 day stay with acute exacerbation of copd. I had my last cigerette on the day I was admitted. I’m extremely depressed. I know a lot of people would not understand, but smoking is a big part of my life. I know I have no choice but to quit, but now I worry how I will make it through each day. I just joined this forum today and have found a lot of helpful information. Thanks for any suggestions to help me deal with this life change.

Hi RJ, not sure if that is what you initials are. Thank you so much for joining the forum today. I want you to know that I do understand, trust me, I do and I also want you to know that you don’t have to go through this alone. I do have a quit smoking section that can help you that I welcome you to visit. You can find the link here:

http://www.copd.about.com/od/quittingsmoking/Quitting_Smoking.htm

I also want to point you in the direction of the smoking cessation guide site for some added support:

http://www.quitsmoking.about.com

As far as some quit tips, here are my suggestions:

The first thing that I would do is try to stay really busy, so you don’t have time to think about smoking.

Next, I would keep a journal so that you can be really in touch with your thoughts and emotions on a daily basis. Be sure to record those times when you crave smoking the most, and you will begin to see a pattern there.

When you begin to crave a cigarette, try a more healthy distraction, like taking a walk or swim. Furthermore, chew gum, eat hard candy, eat a carrot…anything that will keep your mouth busy as well. Remember, smoking is a very oral fixation, so it is important for you to replace it with something more healthy.

Are you planning to go on a nicotine patch? I usually recommend it so that you don’t have such bad nicotine withdrawels. Also, ask your doctor about Wellbutrin. It can help you fight the depression and the cravings, killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.

There is also a drug called Chantex. Here is a link to one of my articles about how one of my readers quit using this drug.You may want to ask your doctor about this, as well:

http://www.copd.about.com/od/quittingsmoking/a/quitstories.htm

Nicotine withdrawel symptoms can be uncomfortable, and I am for anything that will help you feel more comfortable, so I highly recommend seeing your doctor as soon as possible.

Next, if you can, try to pick up a new hobby or get back into an old one that you have been out of touch with for some time. You will now have more money in your pocket, as you won’t be buying cigarettes, so maybe using that money for something fun, creative or both will give you something to look forward to.

Finally, be patient with yourself. You will have good days and bad, until one day you will be on the other side and feeling so much better. You will smell better, your clothes and car will smell better and your skin will look better. And, you will slow the progression of your COPD, which is the best thing that you can do for yourself.

I am so happy that you quit and found my site. If you want to continue this conversation, we can take it to the forum and if you would like, at least in the beginning, feel free to check in with me on a daily basis about how you are doing. Just post a new thread and I will always answer you in a timely manner.

Hope to hear from you in the forum and congratulations, you are on your way to a better life!

For anyone who is interested, I have started a forum post about having trouble quitting smoking:

http://www.forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-copd&tid=29

Let’s take this to the forum!

I am here at a forum newcomer. Until I read and deal with the forum.
Let’s learn!

Nothing seems to be easier than seeing someone whom you can help but not helping.
I suggest we start giving it a try. Give love to the ones that need it.
God will appreciate it.

Hi people…

tks for the effort you put in here I appreciate it!

Figure Out Why You Smoke

You may have heard the saying that the first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one. As cliché as the phrase has become, it is undeniably true. You have to figure out why you smoke in order to get rid of those reasons and replace them with reasons why you should not smoke.

Quit With Others

It is easier to quit smoking if you do it with a group of people who are struggling at the same time. You can keep each other in line and offer advice and support through the tough times. There are various online resources for quitting in groups, and your local hospital may have meetings as well.

Throw Out Smoking Related Stuff

Perhaps the first step in quitting smoking is to get rid of all tobacco products, lighters, matches, ashtrays, and anything that smells strongly of smoke and can’t be washed. You are less likely to start smoking again if there is nothing that reminds you of it lying around.
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