So as a Bachelor degree nurse I am constantly looking up information on copd. What I have learned is that it runs in families, it might possibly be an autoimmune disease, and that people with Copd have a gene that is the same as pepople with lupus, (in other words they are saying that people with copd have the same gene as pepole with lupus. It would make sense because even after quitting smoking the disease does not stop, it continues to destroy lung tissue. I was disgnosed in my forties with this disease, quit smoking ASAP d, took me arouind a year with some set backs here and there and I have been smoke free for approximately 28 years, since 1994.. Just recently crossed over into moderate stage, can be quite scary. . my question is how long before it hits the severe stage? Can anyone answer that? probably its not somehting that we can predict, just try to stay away from smoking fumes and vapors and exercise.