We fear losing them and at the same time we may blame them for causing their own disease. These feelings need to be discussed openly and a way found to move past blame and guilt. Some perspective on smoking may help. Smoking is not simply personal choice. It is heavily influenced by tobacco advertising and social pressure and smoking itself is an addiction that is one of the most powerful known to human kind.
Smokers are as much victims as people making free choices.
Not so long ago, more people smoked than not. Those who have quit have overcome major hurdles in detox and habit reshaping. Although most COPD is caused by smoking, it can also be caused by exposure to certain chemicals or be the result of an inherited lack of alpha-one antitrypsin, normally made by the body to help protect the lungs. Your doctor can get you a spirometry test which only requires you to breathe into a test device. The earlier COPD is detected, the sooner you can stop the damage and save your lungs.