Is it possible to get COPD in my 20’s?

I am 23 and recently been to the doctors for difficulty breathing. My symptoms include shortness of breath with activity, wheezing, the feeling of not being able to take deep enough breaths , coughing only when wheezing is present. I also get palpitations and a rapid heart rate on occasions. I have passed out once from these symptoms. I thought I had a panic attack but was informed by my doctor that weezing implies a complication in the lungs.

An EKG came out fine. When looking for a blood clot, the chest x-ray and blood work came out negative as well. A Nublizer was done in the office and I felt much better after that. My oxygen level went from 94 to 98. I am now on a steriod, inhaler and an antibiotic to see if the symptoms subside. I started the steriod today however I do not feel the inhaler is doing much since I still feel the urge to keep taking deeps breaths, even though it is difficult. I have a follow tomorrow with the doctor and want to know if this should be a concern of mine. The doctor is treating it as bronchitis right now, which is why I was given the anitbiotic.
He gave the antibiotic for bronchitis just as a precaution however i do not have any of the cold symptoms that come with it. My mother mentioned the COPD thing and i looked it up online and everything says it can occur when u are older and sometimes in 30’s and 40’s. I was just a little concerned since I have been smoking for 12 years now and my mother used to smoke in the house when I was a child. My mom is the one who mentioned it to me since i believe she has it and i was just wondering if it does occur in younger adults.

Even the doctor said it was bronchitis. Why did you make the giant leap to COPD? Kinda sounds like you might have some asthma there but that’s still a far shot from COPD.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 am and is filed under Blood Clot X-Ray. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.