Only smokers get COPD????

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

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

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?