I have mild emphysema, just diagnosed at age 53, I'm very active, running regularly X3 times a week, no cough or breathing issues just a small crackling sound in left lung when lying down at night. I stopped smoking 12 years ago and my doctor assures me that there would be no more damage to my lungs unless I smoke and my lungs function will decline as normal with age now. My question is, how could my lungs decline into the later ,more severe, stages of COPD if I've only mild damage to start with ? Surely the natural lung function loss that everyone experiences wouldn't be enough to move me to medium or severe stage? Especially if I keep exercising? Will the emphysema spread from the small area it's in to damage more of my lungs? Bottom line is, can I really slow down, or nearly half the progression of this disease as my doctor and respiratory nurse have tried to convince me ?