54 year old father diagnosed with COPD?

COPD is persistent obstruction of the airways caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Or other issues that may arise..........

Emphysema:::::

This is an enlargement of the tiny air sacs of the lungs (alveoli)  and the destruction of their walls. Chronic bronchitis is a persistent chronic cough that produces sputum and it is not due to medically discernible causes such as lung cancer. In chronic bronchitis, bronchial glands are enlarged, causing excess secretion of mucus.

There are two causes for the air flow obstruction in COP disease. The first is emphysema. Normally, the clusters of alveoli connected to the small airways provide a fairly rigid structure and hold the airways open. In emphysema, however the alveolar walls are destroyed, so the bronchioles lose their structural support.  Thus the bronchioles collapse when air is inhaled. In emphysema, therefore, the airflow narrowing is structural and permanent.

The second cause of airflow obstruction is inflammation of the small airways in  chronic bronchitis. There is scarring of their walls, swelling of their lining, partial obstruction of their passages by mucus, and spasm of smooth muscle. The swelling, mucus obstruction, and smooth muscle spasm can vary in severity from time to time and may improve in response to bronchodilator drugs. The component of the airflow obstruction is partially reversible.

Cigarette use should be stopped and try not to be around second hand smoke. This is one of the causes of COPD This person should avoid exposure to other airborne irritants. If this person contacts influenza or pneumonia, COPD may worsen. Therefore, a person with the disease should receive an influenza vaccination every year and pneumococcal vaccination once every few years or when the health care provider advises  it. 

The reversible elements of airway obstruction include muscle spasm, inflammation, and increased secretions. Improvement in any of these elements will generally lesson symptoms. Muscle spasm may be reduced by using bronchodilators, including beta- adrenergic receptor agonists and a slowly absorbed form of oral theophyline. Inflammation may be reduced  by using corticosteroids, but symptoms respond to corticosteroids in only about 20% of patients. There's no reliable therapy for thinning secretions so they can be coughed up more easily. However avoiding dehydration may prevent thick secretions. A rule of thumb is to drink enough fluids to keep the urine pale,, except for what's passed first thing in the morning. With severe COPD respiratory therapy may help loosen secretions in the chest.

Flair ups of COPD sometimes result from bacterial infection, which can be treated with antibiotics. Usually a 7-10 day course is prescribed. Many health care provider supply a person so they can take as soon as a flare up starts.

Long term oxygen therapy prolongs the life of folks who have severe COPD and severe low oxygen levels in the blood. Although round the clock therapy is best 12 hours of oxygen a day also has some benefit. This therapy reduces the excess of red blood cells caused by low blood oxygen levels, improves the person's mental functioning and improves the heart failure caused by COPD.

The prognosis for patients with mild airway obstruction is favorable, little worse than the prognosis for smokers with out COPD. With moderate and severe airway obstruction, the prognosis becomes progressively worse. Around 95% may die in 10 years(give or take).Death may result from respiratory failure, pneumonia, leakage of air into the pleural space around the lungs, heart rhythm abnormalities, or blockage of the arteries leading to the lungs. Folks with COPD also have an increased risk of lung cancer.. The life span is un determined some longer than others

If he takes good care of himself, he could live as long as it takes to die of something else entirely.

A long life full of restrictions.

I've had it for years. Look it up, still here and breathing at 73.