Cult film director David Lynch announced this week that he is now housebound due to the debilitating lung disease emphysema, and can no longer appear on set.
The 78-year-old Hollywood legend suffers from severe shortness of breath, one of the main symptoms of the condition, and claimed: ‘I can’t go outside. And I can only walk a short distance before I run out of oxygen.’
And Lynch, who directed the Twin Peaks series and Blue Velvet, is not alone: millions of people in Britain and America live with a diagnosis of emphysema.
Even more worrying, however, is the fact that many millions of people still suffer from this deadly condition without knowing it.
What are the warning signs? And could you have emphysema without knowing it?
Hollywood legend David Lynch suffers from severe shortness of breath, one of the main symptoms of COPD, and claimed: ‘I can’t go outside. And I can only walk a short distance before I run out of oxygen’
Lynch, who directed the Twin Peaks series and Blue Velvet, pictured above, is not alone: millions of people in Britain and America are living with an emphysema diagnosis
Emphysema is one of the two main conditions that make up chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The other is chronic bronchitis.
A total of 1.2 million people in the UK have COPD. It is the cause of one in eight hospital admissions and 30,000 deaths each year.
More than 11 million people in the U.S. are living with a diagnosis of COPD. But doctors say these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.
Emphysema occurs when the small alveoli (or air sacs) in the lungs become damaged and no longer function properly.
Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of the airways. Many people suffer from both problems. That is why they are not grouped under the same heading.
One in four patients has NEVER smoked
The main cause of COPD is smoking – and David Lynch admitted it His love for cigarettes was probably the cause of his condition.
He told Sight and Sound magazine: ‘Smoking was something I loved immensely, but eventually it bit me.
‘For me it was part of life as an artist: the tobacco and the smell of it, and lighting things and smoking them and going back and sitting back and having a cigarette and looking at your work or thinking about things.
‘Nothing in this world is so beautiful. Meanwhile it’s destroying me.’
Only one in four people who develop COPD have never smoked.
Secondhand smoke, air pollution, exposure to dust, fumes and chemicals in the workplace, and a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) are also risk factors.
Diagnosis is most common in people over the age of 40. However, it is thought that the irreversible damage occurs gradually and can begin much earlier.
Suffering from a never-ending cough? Get it checked…
The most common early warning signs are shortness of breath, a cough that doesn’t go away, wheezing or tightness in the chest, fatigue, and frequent respiratory infections.
People may find that these problems require them to adjust their daily activities and become less active.
Doctors say these types of symptoms should not be dismissed as “just part of getting older” and should always be checked.
Although COPD cannot be cured, the earlier it is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. This can alleviate the worst symptoms and even prevent the disease from developing further.
In addition to quitting smoking, patients with COPD are advised to take extra precautions to protect themselves from respiratory infections such as flu and Covid.
Even a mild cold can be much worse because of existing lung problems. In addition, there is an increased risk of pneumonia, a life-threatening bacterial infection.
COPD patients are advised to ensure they are up to date on all vaccinations. Avoiding second-hand smoke and other forms of pollution is also important.
Emphysema occurs when the tiny air sacs — or alveoli — in the lungs become damaged and no longer function properly. Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of the airways, and many people have both problems, so they are not mentioned under the same umbrella term.
Tests You Need to Rule Out Fatal Lung Disease
The most important test that a GP or other doctor performs to rule out COPD is spirometry. This measures how well the lungs are working.
To do this, patients are asked to blow into a device called a spirometer after inhaling a medication called a bronchodilator. This medication helps widen the airways.
A spirometer measures two things: the amount of air a person exhales per second and the total volume.
These values are compared to the normal values for a person of the same age. This can determine whether there is a problem with the respiratory tract.
If COPD is suspected, additional tests will be done, including a chest X-ray, blood tests (to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms, including anemia), and possible heart tests.
Although there is no cure for COPD, the earlier it is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can be started. This can help alleviate the worst symptoms and even prevent the disease from progressing.
The most common early warning signs of COPD are shortness of breath, a chesty or mucus-like cough that doesn’t go away, wheezing or tightness in the chest, fatigue or tiredness, and frequent chest infections.
No cure…but there is hope for patients
Patients with COPD are given inhalers similar to those used by asthma patients.
There are a number of these medications, including bronchodilators. These are medications that make breathing easier by relaxing and widening the airways. Corticosteroids can also help reduce inflammation in your airways.
If inhalers alone do not control symptoms, other medications may also be prescribed.
Dietary advice, psychological and emotional support are also offered and can help patients better manage symptoms. For more information, visit Asthma + Lung in the UK and in the US the COPD Foundation or the American Lung Association.
Patients may also benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation, an exercise program that can improve endurance and fitness in people with lung conditions such as COPD.
