Brief Answer:
It can be slowed.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting the query on HCM. After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. The technical definition of COPD is as follows: "Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common preventable and treatable disease, is characterized by airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. Exacerbations and comorbidities contribute to the overall severity in individual patients."

2. It is important for us to know here that after adulthood, the lung capacity (FEV1) usually declines per year at a rate of 30 ml/year in non smokers and this rate of decline in lung functions is accelerated in smokers and patients with COPD.

3. With this background , it would be easier to understand that lung function decline with ageing is a normal physiological process and it is accelerated in COPD patients. The lung function declined cannot be reversed back to normal.

4.Considering the requirement of prednisolone and antibiotics on and off, you must be having exacerbations of COPD. You need to continue inhalers and oral medications regularly to keep your COPD in control.

5. Thus the progression of COPD cannot be halted or reversed but it can be slowed.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any. Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards
Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist

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