COPD

[bev1958]

my mum had a history of lung problems the first being when she was 18 she had pneumonia and she was left with one damaged lung,from then on she had slight breathing problems but was buying over the counter do-do tablets rather than go to doctor and eventualy she developed asthma within just a few years she was taken into hospital with bad swellings on her legs and tests revealed emphysema and within about 3 years she died of chronic obstructive airways disease and cor-pulmonale in 1990 aged 57.
I am 50years of age and have never had breathing difficulties,do not have asthma or any of the illnesses my mum suffered ,i just get a cold every 2 years which can sometimes take a while to get better as i usually end up with sinusitis so given these details am i likely to get what my mum has suffered from.

[Davy9]

There is a genetically related disease that results in emphysema. It is called Alpha One Anti Trypsin deficiency disorder. The description you gave about your mom does sound like she may have suffered from this. But like other genetic disorders that does not mean that you automatically will suffer from the same thing. You can be genetically tested for this and probably should be to learn if you carry the gene and might pass it along to your children.

This is a rare disorder and more is being learned about it. Do a web search on the topic. But most emphysema in not related to this and is more commonly related to tobacco usage.

[bev1958]

thanks for your reply,however had my mum not got pneumonia when she was 18 when anti biotics were not greatly avalible she may never have had lung damage.i have an older brother and sister and none of us have suffered or have the same health problems my mum developed.

[Davy9]

You asked whether emphysema could be hereditary and this form of it is hereditary. Your Mum may or may have not had alpha one. If she did none of her children may have it but all of them may carry the recessive gene for it. It is one of those diseases where 2 recessive genes need to occur for it to express itself in its worst form. It can be tested to see if any of you are carriers of this genetic defect. If passed on to future generations some one down the line may wed somebody who is also a carrier and could produce offspring with the full blown disease.

There is a alpha one anti trypsin organization which can provide you with more infomration and how to go about getting tested for the disease.