The course of the disease involves periods of increasing severity resulting in an increase in shortness of breath and productive cough, or, occasionally, the precipitation of acute respiratory failure. Frequently there is a history of emergency hospital admissions because of respiratory infection, the development of heart failure, or poor patient compliance with prescribed therapy. These episodes sometimes necessitate mechanical ventilation to assist breathing. If you suffer from COPD, you must stop smoking NOW in order to prevent further damage to your lungs. It is impossible to undo the damage that has already occurred, but by stopping you will be able to prevent further damage.
Smoking increases the incidence of infection, cough, and sputum production.
The tar and nicotine that is present in cigarette smoke inhibits the natural clearing functions of the lungs. This leads to an accumulation of foreign particles in the lungs that lead to infection. In addition, the irritation that is caused by the cigarette smoke causes and excess in mucus production and thickening of the airway walls. Therefore, to decrease the amount of work that is placed on the lungs, it necessary to lose weight. Upon doing so, people tend to have more energy to walk up stairs, and perform activities of daily living.