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Tue 2 Aug, 2005 06:28 pm
My dad has recently been diagnosed with COAD - CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAYS DISEASE. I did a check on the net for more information about COAD and the result I get appears to all agree that such disorder is caused by smoking. The thing is my dad has never smoked in his whole life. No one in our family are smokers - the only time we would be exposed to cigarrette smoke is in the public domain - which everyone suffers now and then.
My father does not work in a smoking zone. The only thing I can think of that has affected his lungs like so is exposure to dust and rust - he did a lot of maintence work on rooftops about 10 years ago. He also suffered TB about 30-40 years ago but hasn't suffered any attacks for decades now. Could inhalation of the rooftop material have cause the COAD?
If anyone has any information in regards to non smoking related COAD or COAD generally, I would highly appreciate it. One thing that has scared me is that it is incurable as well as a progressive and irreversible disease .
Thank you.
Pragmatic, according to
this site, smoking is the leading cause, but not the only cause.
It says "Other risk factors for COPD are passive smoking (exposure of non-smokers to cigarette smoke from others), male gender, and working in a polluted environment."
Does your dad have a history of other lung problems? Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema?
mac11 wrote:Does your dad have a history of other lung problems? Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema?
TB and now that you mention it - asthma. I am starting to think now that the COAD may be due to this medical history and his work conditions a few years back, on the rooftops.
I've had asthma my whole life - the symptoms and treatment for emphysema seem identical to my symptoms and treatment. I'm not sure what the difference is really.
Pragmatic, how's your dad doing?
Hi Mac11:
at the moment, I'm suspecting that he's in the mild stages - apart from some coughing bouts, he isn't showing other signs of difficulty. Well it is a progressive disease.
Our GP said that the disease isn't serious but having done the research on the net (thanks to gus for the extra information) I think otherwise. I want him to see a specialist, but he is still thinking about it.
Thanks for asking by the way.
I've been seeing a pulmonologist for 21 years. It's great to see someone who is up to date on the latest treatments and knows my history.
I've met at least three horses with COPD. As far as I know, none were smokers (or survivors of barn fires).
mac11 wrote:I've been seeing a pulmonologist for 21 years. It's great to see someone who is up to date on the latest treatments and knows my history.
What is a pulmonologist? I have never heard of such an area. This could be really helpful.
So you can tell dad that he's an old horse, I suppose.
A pulmonologist is a lung specialist.
I went to allergists until I was in my mid-20s. My asthma was really out of control, and trying to treat the allergies wasn't working, so I was referred to a pulmonologist.
The medications have really helped me. I used to go to the emergency room 8-10 times a year. I'd barely recover from one episode before the next one cropped up. I haven't been to the ER in over 10 years. I still wheeze and occasionally reach for the albuterol, but mostly my asthma is under control.
I wish it was just asthma - its controllable. But COAD it seems can only get worse, never better. But I will try to get our GP to refer him to a pulmonologist - thanks for that.
Dust and rust may be involved. It is hard to pinpoint things.
Me, I've been lengthily exposed to laboratory medicine in the sixties and seventies - xylene, toluene, et al; in art, turpentine, kerosene, various resins, et al. Landscape - well, hey... many items.
oh, I took xrays at sixteen.. though I wore a lead shield.
Smog in Los Angeles, including masses of wafts of diesel from buses.
I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Oh, yeh, cigarettes, I smoked for twenty years, twenty years ago.
In my case I could blame my world or myself, but I'd rather not, and work to change things for the better. On your dad's situtation, I don't know, maybe or maybe not, there is one clear cause. Pollution certainly isn't healthful.
Here are possible causes - I think my posts were messy and disorganised:
- dust and pollution
- smoke exposure in public domain
- abestos (he lived in abestos roofed houses back 40 years ago)
- rust and associated metals during his years working roof work
- TB (but no signs of it during the past 20 years)
- asthma.
And these are all big possibilities of COAD but smoking seems to be the major cause. Now I'm trying to work out if there is anything that can delay the progress or make his conditions better. And it seems like a cure is improbable at this stage.
Prag, I agree that what I know as copd is very serious.
My friend's husband had it for many years, and they both knew it. Not easy, but they were together in dealing with it, and of course, separate in dealing with it.
My only possibly useful post to you is .. pay attention to your parent, and ask for answers, points of view, and sheer sillyness... whatever, listen, when ever you can, from now, and as time goes on.
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