COPD

[will331]

My dad has exhibited symptoms for some time now, but we never knew what the issue was. Now he has been diagnosed and has approx 55% of his lung capacity. He has made the commitment to quit smoking but has tried multiple times over the years to quit and has never succeeded. TO add to the equation, he has Parkinsons and the Steroid treatment for the COPD is interfering with his Parkinsons medications.
My question is if he cannot quit, how quickly does this disease advance? I know that the damages are irreversible and he will never be the same. There is discussions on putting him on oxygen.
I would like some insight from other people who may have been in the same place as my family is now. Thank you, W.

[Davy9]

There is no typical rate of advancement for COPD. What can be said is that it will progress faster if he continues to insult his lungs with tobacco smoke and less so if he quits. There will be a new element of danger if he should go on oxygen and continue to smoke. Everything burns more aggressively in the presence of elevated oxygen so he will need to use extra care in using the O2 along with his smoking habit.

Some will say that expecting a long term smoker to endure quitting nicotine addiction once advanced lung disease is present is simply unkind. We will all die someday and if he chooses to smoke at this juncture that may give him more pleasure than tackling the travails of quitting.

I am sorry to hear of his predicament yet sadly the same scenario is played out much too frequently. Ask any questions and I try to answer the best I know how.