My mom was "blown off" for years, until she was 46% O2 sat, hospitalized and her MD said she wouldn't make it through the holidays- this was 2004. I have been in the medical field since 1984, knew other MDs and got her appropriate, not cost effective medications, but she is still here and now having more problems and more meds, but we didn't back down and the sooner the smoking and environmental contributors are ceased, good meds are started, the better- stay active, exercise, good diet (diet helps alot) and stay on top of the medications- there are too many available now. Singular, Mucinex, Spiriva, Advair, Albuterol and Atrovent nebulizers. Left untreated, you add blood pressure meds, heart meds and prednisone to the daily list, with oxygen all the time. It can't be reversed, but there is hope in stopping or slowing the advancement.