TUESDAY, Aug. 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- David Lynch, who transformed television and film with series such as "Twin Peaks" and movies like "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive," announced Monday that he is battling the lung disease emphysema. Lynch, 78 and a former long-time smoker, first spoke about his illness in an article for a magazine from the British Film Institute.
Although emphysema is limiting his mobility, Lynch said that he could continue directing, just remotely. He confirmed his diagnosis on a . "Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking," Lynch said.
"I have to say that I enjoyed 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." He added that he quit smoking two years ago. "Recently, I had many tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema," Lynch said.
"I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire." According to the , over 3 million Americans are living with emphysema. "Emphysema causes damage to the lung tissue and alveoli or tiny air sacs.
Over time, this damage causes the tiny air sacs to break and create one big air pocket instead of small ones," the ALA explained. "When the air sacs break, the big air pockets trap stale air in the damaged tissue and this stops oxygen from easily moving into your blood stream. This makes it harder for you to breathe and keep your body pro.