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Suggest Treatment For Shortness Of Breath, Stress And Anxiety
Question: I am aware that as we age, our lungs and respiratory system becomes less efficient. Not sure if that is the way to describe it but we breath harder on exertion than when we were younger.
If I have had 6 Pulmonary function tests since I quit smoking 15 years ago. Not much change over the years except FEF 25/75, They all hover in the normal percentage range for my age, some even greater.
I have visited 4 pulomonologists, 2 of them I have outlived their practice, Not jumping around , they just keep retiring. Any way, they all seem to agree that I have a small ventilary defect but with little change over 16 years, and the lack of COPD symptoms that i am doing fine.
I do have high stress and anxiety, Practicing psychiatrists are working to reduce my anxiety and panic symptoms. They do not attribute all my anxiety to my issues but include it as part of my anxiety development.
I apologize, my issue that causes me great discomfort is my shortness of breath when doing certain activities, mostly climbing long flights of stairs and being unable to talk comfortably for a few minutes.
My daughter is a Respiratory therapist and has looked at all my PFT's and says its normal and your just getting old.
Would you take a moment and give the most understandable explanation of aging and respiratory decline and what to expect, what it may look like, how fast it progresses and its outlook. I would like to understand this so as not to keep asking.
My mother passed away from COPD after smoking for 70 years, She died at 91, I watched her go through lots of different inhalers as one no longer worked and a new one was prescribed. We think they eased life but did little. Well I have a inhaler prescribed years ago but only use when I exercise, I do not want to use something that eventually fails to do anything.
Sorry for this lengthy diatribe, just tell me about aging and respiratory and I will try to understand. You may contribute your thoughts to my issues and if you want I can send you spreadsheet listing all the PFTS and Results.
If I have had 6 Pulmonary function tests since I quit smoking 15 years ago. Not much change over the years except FEF 25/75, They all hover in the normal percentage range for my age, some even greater.
I have visited 4 pulomonologists, 2 of them I have outlived their practice, Not jumping around , they just keep retiring. Any way, they all seem to agree that I have a small ventilary defect but with little change over 16 years, and the lack of COPD symptoms that i am doing fine.
I do have high stress and anxiety, Practicing psychiatrists are working to reduce my anxiety and panic symptoms. They do not attribute all my anxiety to my issues but include it as part of my anxiety development.
I apologize, my issue that causes me great discomfort is my shortness of breath when doing certain activities, mostly climbing long flights of stairs and being unable to talk comfortably for a few minutes.
My daughter is a Respiratory therapist and has looked at all my PFT's and says its normal and your just getting old.
Would you take a moment and give the most understandable explanation of aging and respiratory decline and what to expect, what it may look like, how fast it progresses and its outlook. I would like to understand this so as not to keep asking.
My mother passed away from COPD after smoking for 70 years, She died at 91, I watched her go through lots of different inhalers as one no longer worked and a new one was prescribed. We think they eased life but did little. Well I have a inhaler prescribed years ago but only use when I exercise, I do not want to use something that eventually fails to do anything.
Sorry for this lengthy diatribe, just tell me about aging and respiratory and I will try to understand. You may contribute your thoughts to my issues and if you want I can send you spreadsheet listing all the PFTS and Results.
Brief Answer:
Lung functions do decline with age.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
The lungs undergo a phase of growth and maturation during the first two decades of life and achieve maximal lung function around age 20 years in females and 25 years in males.
Thereafter lung functions remain almost stable upto the age of 35 years. After the age of 35 years lung functions start declining. The decline in lung functions depends on
1. Peak lung functions achieved during adulthood
2. Duration of the plataue phase
3. Exposure to chemicals, cigarette smoke etc occur or not.
Estimated rate of decline in FEV1 is 25-30 ml/year after the age of 35 years. After the age of 70 years rate of decline doubles to 60ml /year.
Rate of FVC decline is 5ml /year.
But honestly speaking, these values are not fixed fit all patients. Subjective variability is very high.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Lung functions do decline with age.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
The lungs undergo a phase of growth and maturation during the first two decades of life and achieve maximal lung function around age 20 years in females and 25 years in males.
Thereafter lung functions remain almost stable upto the age of 35 years. After the age of 35 years lung functions start declining. The decline in lung functions depends on
1. Peak lung functions achieved during adulthood
2. Duration of the plataue phase
3. Exposure to chemicals, cigarette smoke etc occur or not.
Estimated rate of decline in FEV1 is 25-30 ml/year after the age of 35 years. After the age of 70 years rate of decline doubles to 60ml /year.
Rate of FVC decline is 5ml /year.
But honestly speaking, these values are not fixed fit all patients. Subjective variability is very high.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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