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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Can COPD be inherited?


Your Question: Can COPD be inherited?

My humble answer: That's a great question. Actually, about 98% of COPD cases are not inherited. However, your parents can give you the genetic disposition whereby if you smoke you will have a greater chance of getting COPD. For example, if you have the asthma gene, and you smoke, you are much more likely to get COPD as, say, someone who does not have the asthma gene.

A very small percentage of people, like 2% of COPD patients or 0.2% of the U.S. population, have what is called an antitrypsin deficiency. These people are predisposed to developing emphysema, a type of COPD, before the age of 45.

If you have any further questions email me, or Visit Q&A section.


Lung Lover said...

I made this incredibly simple website for a research project. That being said, I think it is a pretty good summary of Alpha 1-antitrypsin Deficiency.

Thanks Rick for all your good posts :)

Genevieve said...

I have a question for you that's really making me very angry. I battle an atypical CF and Bronchiectasis. I have pleural scarring, fissure in left lung, nodule in right via CAT scan and abnormally high neutrophilic inflammation, thick mucus per Bronch.

What really upsets me is when I'm having an infection or Bronchiectasis flare, the wheezing is intermittent, if the Dr. doesn't hear it just then when he listens, he says my lungs are clear?! I could be spitting up plugs of green and blood & if they don't hear it just then, they act like I'm not suffering.

It settles in the lower lobe bases. I just am so upset because I leave and I'll be wheezing & just because they don't hear it right then...they don't take me seriously. I now have to take pictures of the mucus I'm coughing up because they act like they don't believe me. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is?

Cleveland Clinic said my mucus was so thick when they did my bronch. The Pulmonary Specialist said that may be why they don't always hear it moving? I'm curious what you think. I'm really battling right now, trying to get over a lung infection. On Avelox 400mg for 21 days, recovering from CDIFF also, 3rd time since December. I don't know what the hell to get this out of the lower bases.