What happens is this: everyone loses lung function as they age, beginning about age 25. People who smoke lose lung function faster than people who don't. When you have a PFT or spirometry test (both breathing tests) they compare how much air you blew out in the first second of exhalation to someone who is the same height, weight, age and sex who doesn't have lung disease. That's where the percentage comes from: comparing you to someone just like you physically, age-wise and sex. That's the FEV1 percentage, and is usually what we refer to as "lung function".

When you quit smoking, it takes time, but generally your lungs will settle down and you'll lose lung function at the same rate as that person just like you without lung disease. You quit smoking five months ago and experience an increase in your lung function. If you're not on any meds now, the improvement is yours and probably could be attributed to quitting smoking. If you're on meds and took your meds before you had your last spirometry, the meds could be contributing to the result.

Liz is right, the damage is done and can't be undone, but quitting smoking could help you clear up a lot of gunk from your lungs and the 77% could be a truer reading than the 65%. Either way, you are in the mild stage and have a chance, given some other lifestyle changes, to really make a difference in your level of functioning.

The keys to managing and controlling COPD are: no smoking; a daily exercise program of at least 30 minutes a day of aerobic activity and 30 minutes strengthening exercise three times a week; taking your meds; getting to a good weight (if you're overweight, weight loss might get your FEV1 up further); avoiding people with bugs and if you do get something respiratory, get to your doc ASAP. People with COPD can't afford to try to tough it out; that's the fastest way to a hospital I know.

If you're lucky, you could cruise through the rest of your life very nicely and you COPD wouldn't be much of a factor.

Jean

Unfortunately i have only 26 percent lung capacity. My days r spent pushing myself to b active. Upon getting up i spAce out taking medicine and doing breathing excersizes. After that i eat and drink an ensure to boost some energy. I try to get out at least 3 days . I need a walker if the store doesnt have carts then make myself walk. Keeping active keeps my body going.

That is your lung function capacity . Your readings were better , BUT that does not mean your lungs have improved . Pulmonologist told me the damage is done , BUT it can be controlled with med's .This disease can be controlled with med's . When they test me , they test my functions TWICE , 1st. with no med's , and then test with , and levels DO change by 10 to 15 % . BUT that does change daily .

Take your med's as prescribed by your Dr. IF you using a primary , get referred to a lung specialist , ( NO GUESSING GAMES with them . ) , good healthy diet and breathing excersing . Eating 5 or 6 small meals is alot better ( breathing wise ) than 3 large full meals . When stomach is full , pushes against lungs and prevents them from expanding to get the air needed .

I only know I have copd.Nothing more has been told to me. I am trying to quit smoking now. went from over a pack to about 5 right now.. I need to find a specialist asap. I need to know more. At this point I use Neb PRN,and Symbacort 2x a day.. Other then that what I am seeing you all say is more then I ever knew ..

Quitting smoking did not change my lung function whatsoever. I quit smoking when I was told I had very mild COPD. Things got worse and I am now in Stage 2 of this disease.