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Why Do My Lungs Continue To Deteriorate As I Grow Older?

A MyCOPDTeam Member asked a question 💭
Murrieta, CA
May 27, 2023
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A MyCOPDTeam Member

Everyone, whether or not you have any lung disease, loses lung function beginning at about age 25. People who don't smoke or pollute their lungs in any way, lose it at a known rate. Some people who smoke lose it faster than normal and begin losing it at a younger smoking age (we don't know why some people who smoke lose it faster or earlier than others). Once you quit smoking, you can't take back any damage that's been done, but you do go back to losing lung function at the same rate as people who never smoked. That's why, when I was diagnosed in 2000 with an FEV1 of 37%, I still have an FEV1 that stays in the mid-30s. I still lose lung function, but compared to someone who is my height, weight, age, sex and ethnicity, I don't lose any more than they do: I just start further down the road. Barring a major weight loss, that's the best thing I can hope for: staying stable.

May 27, 2023
A MyCOPDTeam Member

All of our organs deteriorate (age) as we grow older. If you have a lung disease then they've already suffered damage.

May 27, 2023
A MyCOPDTeam Member

There are a lot of people doing research on this. I hope the COPD Foundation in supporting them even if it does not involve something that will make a pharmaceutical company a lot of money.

May 28, 2023
A MyCOPDTeam Member

I'm not sure if any answer will satisfy you. I'm sorry mine was no help to you. Have you asked your Dr. this question ? Maybe they can give you an answer that you can accept. I hope you find the answer you're looking for.

May 28, 2023
A MyCOPDTeam Member

That does not answer the question. I recognize our lungs continue to deteriorate as we get older. My question is WHY do our lungs continue to deteriorate as we get older? Personally I have not had anything to smoke or drink for over 30 years, and evidence of deterioration did not start until about 10 years ago. Is it things like build-up of senescent cells, change or destruction of natural stem cells in the lungs, changes in gut microbiome, immune system over-reacting to something, build-up of mucus in the lungs blocking gas exchange or deterioration of micro blood vessels, etc. The list goes on and on, but it does not yet give a good answer as to WHY. Just saying it is because we are getting older is not an answer that I want to accept. Lets get specific.

May 27, 2023

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