Your doc is right. Here's the way it works: everyone, whether or not they have lung disease, loses lung function every year, beginning at about age 20. People who smoke or who are exposed to lung irritants lose lung function faster than those who don't. That's why they always present the results of your Pulmonary Function Tests or spirometry tests as a percentage: it's the percentage you did compared to what someone your age, height, weight and sex would have done on the same test.

When you quit smoking, eventually (usually within a couple of years but sometimes longer), you begin to lose lung function at the same rate as people without lung disease. For instance, my FEV1 was 34% in 2000 and it's still in the mid 30s. So I haven't had any more deterioration since then, RELATIVE to everyone else. The problem is that, like everyone else, the volume that I blow on the test DOES get less every year, so while I'm still relatively in the same place, I do have less than I did back in 2000.

I've been lucky. Some people do experience unexplained drops in their lung function and we don't know why. There's a lot of research going on right now that we hope will help answer those questions.

Carol: ask for a CT scan. That will definitely show the emphysema. The problem with emphysema is that every time you get sick and don't catch it early, you run the risk for more scarring and damage to the lungs. That makes your breathing even worse. So every time you get so much as a tickle in your throat, you want to be getting to your doc. Having an exacerbation is like throwing a party, and you want to be sure your doc is the first one invited.

Jean. Exacerbations are the scariest thing I've had a few. Hospitalised each time. More like your worst nightmare

Carol. You really need to see a lung specialist now. They will order all the tests and tell you the results. They will put you on the best inhalers for you . You need to have cat scans there are 2 different types. . The specialist will do a spirometer test And then you will know just how much damage you have to your lungs . Please get a referral from your GP. TO SEE A LUNG SPECIALIST.

Thank you for that I stopped smoking in 2005 when I first found out I realized if I didn't I couldn't run with the grandkids I have the flu injection every year and at present have a bad cough so had to go on antibotics and relented to perdasone for a week still coughup up flem but not as much. What I find is the doctors are very vague okay they tell me as soon as I get a cough to get onto antibotics I guess I just wish there was a xray to say yes your lungs are showing emphysema how do I know they are right I have had heart failure from fluid how do I know what is what. At this stage I am struggling with the everyday housework tasks and can sleep all day and night getting in and out the car for my job makes my breathing worse but I cant give in because like other people out there we have a mortgage to contend with