Rendered homebound by emphysema, filmmaker David Lynch vows never to retire

Famed filmmaker David Lynch is an unapologetic lifelong smoker.

He enjoys everything about his habit — the smell, the taste, the ritual.

But as he revealed to the world last month, unfortunately he is now dealing with the consequences of his love for cigarettes.

In an interview with Sight and Sound magazine, Lynch, 78, spoke about having been diagnosed with emphysema, which has rendered him homebound. "I've gotten emphysema from smoking for so long, and so I'm homebound whether I like it or not," he told the magazine. "I can't go out. And I can only walk a short distance before I'm out of oxygen."

He also explained that because of his now-compromised immune system, it’s important that he avoids contracting COVID-19 or even common colds.

Nevertheless, Lynch, whose film directing credits include "Eraserhead," "Elephant Man," "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive" as well as the TV series "Twin Peaks," said he plans to keep working — doing his filmmaking solely from his house if the opportunity presents itself.

After news of his health condition broke, Lynch took to social media to further elaborate, posting on his X, formerly Twitter, page: “Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. 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. I have now quit smoking for over two years. Recently I had many tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema. I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire. I want you all to know that I really appreciate your concern. Love, David."

Understanding emphysema

Some 3.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with emphysema, according to Medical News Today.

Emphysema occurs when lung tissue is damaged, most commonly by smoking, which leads to a loss of elasticity of the lung tissue.

“Eventually, obstructive lung disease (COPD — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can develop when the lung behaves less like a ballon, which is what a healthy lung does, and more like a plastic bag,” explains Cleveland Clinic Weston interventional pulmonologist Dr. John Woytanowski. “It is easy to fill up the lung up with air but because of the loss of elastic recoil, it becomes difficult to get air out of the lung, which leads to air being ‘trapped’ within the lung.”

When this happens, the emphysema sufferer may also experience problems with blood flow as well as movement of the diaphragm, both of which can lead to shortness of breath and chronically low oxygen levels.

Woytanowski says that doctors can usually detect emphysema on a CT scan of the chest and lungs but that diagnosis of COPD requires specialized breathing tests, usually ordered by a pulmonologist.

The most common risk factor for developing emphysema is smoking. This applies to both people who are current smokers or smoked heavily and habitually in the past.

“Some patients have a genetic condition known as alpha-one antitrypsin deficiency, which can lead to the disease as well,” notes Woytanowski. “Other risk factors that are less understood but could contribute to developing the disease include exposure to fumes, chemicals, environmental smoke, organic and inorganic dusts, childhood illnesses and certain congenital/developmental abnormalities.”

Treating emphysema

There are several treatment options available for the emphysema sufferer.

The protocol chosen, says Woytanowski, is based on a variety of factors, including age, how symptomatic someone is, co-morbidities and how frequently they develop infections, among others.

“The initial therapy usually consists of inhalers (aka bronchodilators), which contain medication that help to keep the airways open,” says  Woytanowski. “Sometimes they also include inhaled steroids to calm inflammation. For more advanced or severe cases, patients may need oral medications, minimally invasive procedures or even surgery to help improve breathing.”

In the most severe cases, a lung transplant may be a final option.

“For each and every case, however, maintaining a tolerable exercise regimen and staying up to date on vaccinations is vital,” stresses Woytanowski.

Woytanowski also explains that if emphysema is caught early enough and patients comply with the need to stop smoking “they can expect to live symptom-free or minimally symptomatic with a near normal life expectancy, while others with more advanced disease or those that continue to smoke may experience a gradual loss of quality of life.”

Perhaps what Woytanowski wants all smokers of all ages to remember — whether they have emphysema or not — is that it’s never too late to quit.

“As we age, we lose a percentage of lung function each year — purely as a product of aging,” he says. “Smoking accelerates this loss of lung function. For as long as one continues to smoke, the rate of lung-function decline and lung damage will far outpace the natural aging process. But when someone quits smoking, that rate of lung-function decline reverts to that of an average non-smoker.”

And finally, Woytanowski urges all current and former smokers to speak with their physicians “about whether you qualify for lung cancer screening as this helps to identify lung cancer earlier in high-risk patients. And if you are diagnosed with emphysema or COPD, you should take comfort in knowing there are several treatment options available and that a pulmonologist can devise a personalized treatment plan for you.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rendered homebound by emphysema, filmmaker David Lynch vows never to retire