Lynch opened up about the condition which results from damage to the walls of the alveoli in your lungs (Pic: Instagram/iStock)
David Lynch passed away at the age of 78—less than six months after announcing he had emphysema—a chronic and distressing condition that damages the air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. It is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Known for cult classics like Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, Lynch began smoking at the age of 8 years.
In the months leading up to his death, Lynch opened up about the condition, which results from damage to the walls of the alveoli in your lungs. A blockage develops, which traps air inside your lungs. If you have too much air trapped in your lungs, your chest may appear fuller or have a barrel-chested appearance.
The Oscar winner confirmed the diagnosis in August last year with a statement on X, saying, “Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to say that I enjoy smoking very much, and I do love tobacco—the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them—but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is emphysema.”
What is emphysema?
According to experts, emphysema attacks the alveoli—small, thin-walled, fragile air sacs arranged in clusters at the end of the bronchial airways deep inside your lungs. Once the air gets there, the alveoli stretch, draw in oxygen, and transport oxygen to your blood. As you exhale, your alveoli shrink and force carbon dioxide out of your body.
The damage caused by emphysema makes your lungs’ overall surface area shrink, and it makes it hard to get fresh air in and out of your lungs. This makes your breathing difficult and makes you breathless all the time.
While emphysema usually develops after many years of smoking, there are other causes as well, which include:
- Air pollutants in your home or workplace
- Genetic factors like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Respiratory infections
What are the stages of emphysema?
Even though emphysema is a cause of CO not all patients with the condition have COPD. There are four stages to help describe emphysema:
Stage 1
This is the mildest stage in which your lungs operate at least 80 per cent as well as the healthy lungs of someone who’s the same age, height, and sex.
Stage 2
This is moderate emphysema in which your lungs operate between 50-79 per cent as well as the healthy lungs of someone who’s the same age, height and sex.
Stage 3
This is the stage where you may have severe emphysema as your lungs operate between 30-49 per cent
Stage 4
This is very severe emphysema and your lungs operate less than 30 per cent
Signs and symptoms of emphysema
Doctors say many people do not notice emphysema symptoms until the disease has destroyed 50 per cent or more of their lung tissue. Until then, the first signs include:
- Long-term coughing
- Wheezing
- Breathlessness
- Constant feeling of not being able to get enough air
- Tightness in your chest
- Increased mucus production
- Abnormal mucus colour
- Severe fatigue and tiredness
- Heart issues
- Trouble sleeping
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Weight loss
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