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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    I quit cigarettes 20 years ago. How could I develop COPD?

    Related Topics
    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Respiratory Health
    • 1 answer
    • Dr Sina M. Keihani
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    Dr Sina M. Keihani

    Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Physician

    Dr Keihani is a Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine and also a Specialist in Sleep Disorders. He is the Director of SleepMed Australia and Consults … View Profile

    The majority of patients that smoke have COPD, but not everyone. It's essentially a condition, where there are indications in the lungs and the airways; and that damage is imminent, and often non reversible.  So the damage would have been some time ago. As lungs age, as the body ages, lung function deteriorates over time.  The peak is at about the age of 30, 35, so the added damage from smoking plus natural aging of the lungs, will lead to worsening lung function.

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