Evaluation and Management of Right-Sided Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
The 6 Signs Of Terrifying Lung Disease That Left Director David Lynch 'unable To Walk Across A Room' Before His Death
LEGENDARY director David Lynch passed away at the age of 78, after revealing he'd suffered from a terrifying lung disease that left him barely able to "walk across a room".
The filmmaker captivated and horrified audiences alike with bizarre and surreal works like Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks - and was rarely seen without a cigarette in hand.
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David Lynch passed away at the age of 78 after battling emphysemaCredit: AP
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David Lynch directing his 1990 film Wild at HeartCredit: GettyHis smoking habit was almost lifelong, as Lynch began smoking at the tender age of eight.
In an interview with People in November last year, the director described smoking as "a big important part of my life".
"I loved the smell of tobacco, the taste of tobacco. I loved lighting cigarettes. It was part of being a painter and a filmmaker for me."
He tried to quit many times as the years went by, sensing that his habit would come back to "bite" him.
Read more on lung diseaseAnd bite it him it did, as Lynch was diagnosed with emphysema, a chronic lung condition caused by damage to tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli.
Healthy lungs are made up up of millions alveoli with elastic walls that take oxygen into the body and expel carbon dioxide, a waste gas.
Cigarette smoke is the major cause of emphysema, according to Asthma + Lung UK, gradually damaging the walls of these air sacs, making them break apart and merge into each other, creating holes in the lung.
But pollution, dust, chemical fumes and even vaping, can also destroy lung tissue, Cleveland Clinic notes.
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Major supermarket issues urgent recall for chicken over salmonella fearsPeople with emphysema can find it increasingly hard to breath, as damaged parts of the lung become baggy and trap air.
As they breathe in, the damaged part of the lung inflates more and gets in the way of the healthier lung parts, increasing in the amount of air inside the chest.
What happens to your body when you stop smokingLynch described the everyday agony of his condition in his interview with People.
"It's tough living with emphysema," he shared.
"I can hardly walk across a room. It's like you're walking around with a plastic bag around your head."
Aside from making him rely on oxygen to move around, the disease also made him more vulnerable to picking up other respiratory diseases, keeping him homebound and robbing him of further opportunities to direct.
From symptoms to causes and treatment, here's everything you need to know about emphysema.
What are the symptoms of emphysema?Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.
Data from 2022 shows that around 1.4 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with COPD and that the condition is responsible for about 30,000 deaths a year.
According to Cleveland Clinic, many people don't notice emphysema symptoms until the disease has destroyed half - or more - of their lung tissue.
Initial symptoms can include gradually worsening shortness of breath and tiredness.
Tips to quit smoking
The NHS recommends the following tips:
Over time, this can progress to:
The condition can also be responsible for symptoms such as:
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Lynch was known for iconic films like Blue Velver, starring Isabella RosselliniCredit: Alamy
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Mulholland Drive is another of his cult classic filmsCredit: Alamy Who's most at risk?Smokers are at higher risk of developing emphysema.
The likelihood of developing it increases the more you smoke and the longer you've smoked.
Lynch himself struggled to stub out the habit for two years after receiving his emphysema diagnosis.
He urged other smokers to use his own experience as an example: "You can quit these things that are going to end up killing you."
Some cases of emphysema are also caused by long-term exposure to harmful fumes, dust and air pollution.
Others can be more vulnerable to developing COPD due to their genes.
People with a deficiency in alpha-1-antitrypsin - a substance that protects your lungs - can go on to develop COPD, as their lungs are more vulnerable to damage.
Who was David Lynch?
Filmmaking giant David Lynch died at age 78, his family announced in a Facebook post on January 16, 2025
"It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time," the family statement said.
"There's a big hole in the world now that he's no longer with us. But, as he would say, 'Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.' It's a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way."
Who was David Lynch?
Lynch, who was born on January 20, 1946, transcended American filmmaking with his dark, surrealistic artistic vision with films such as Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and the television show Twin Peaks.
His work blended elements of horror, film noir and a classical European surrealism.
Before he entered filmmaking, Lynch was revered as a painter.
He described his painting of of having to be "organic, violently done and crude" to "achieve that I try to let nature paint more than I paint."
Lynch transitioned his artistic mindset and style into filmmaking in the late 1970s, when he burst onto the scene with his 1977 feature Eraserhead - a horrific, black-humored work that became a disturbing fixture on the midnight movie circuit.
The film quickly took Hollywood and the international movie industry by storm, leading to him signing with Mel Brooks' production company.
The 1980 drama film The Elephant Man captivated audiences, earning eight Academy Award nominations.
Blue Velvet, a frightening hellride, combining film noir and psychological horror, took viewers through the underbelly of a small American town.
It earned Lynch a second Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
In the years after the film's release, Blue Velvet was named one of the greatest films of the 1980s.
In April 1990, Lynch worked alongside screenwriter Mark Frost to produce the ABC horror mystery show Twin Peaks.
The show centered on a detective who teams with a fellow FBI agent to investigate the murder of a homecoming queen.
Although Twin Peaks only ran for two seasons before its cancelation, the show gained a following in the years that followed and is often cited as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.
Lynch was married four times throughout his life and had three children, Jennifer, Austin Jack, and Riley.
In August 2024, he diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking. Lynch disclosed that he was unable to leave his home because of the pulmonary disease.
How is emphysema treated?While your lungs can't heal once you've got emphysema, a number of treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.
This includes things like pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy and lung volume reduction procedures.
In severe cases, you may be in need of a lung transplant - but Asthma + Lung notes that it is a high-risk major operation only suitable for a small number of people and there are not enough lung donations currently available to meet demand.
There are several things you can do too to improve your quality of life.
For starters you should quit smoking if you haven't already.
Getting your yearly flu vaccine can also protect you against winter viruses and slash your risk of developing serious complications if you get ill - such as pneumonia or heart problems.
People living with long-term conditions like COPD can get the vaccine for free on the NHS.
Eating well and staying at a healthy weight can also help you manage your condition, as well as exercising to help you improve your breathing and learning breathing techniques to help you feel more in control of your breathing and cope when you get out of breath.
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Lynch on set in 2006Credit: AlamyWhy Smoking Cigarettes Can Lead To Heart Attacks
Cigarette smoking has long been linked to numerous health problems, but its devastating effect on heart health remains one of the most concerning. Research continues to underscore the complex and often silent ways in which smoking undermines cardiovascular function. More than 7,000 chemicals are released when a cigarette is smoked, and many of them are directly toxic to the heart and blood vessels.
Nicotine, for instance, rapidly stimulates the release of adrenaline, which increases heart rate and raises blood pressure. Combined with carbon monoxide—a byproduct of cigarette smoke—this increase in heart rate and blood pressure strains the heart and circulatory system. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, reducing the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream. This oxygen deprivation forces the heart to work harder, exacerbating its vulnerability to stress and injury.
Together, these toxic chemicals create a cascade of events that puts immense pressure on the cardiovascular system. The result is chronic cardiovascular strain, which significantly increases the risk of heart attacks and other heart diseases over time. The combination of raised blood pressure, compromised oxygen delivery, and increased heart rate serves as a dangerous foundation for heart-related complications.
Arterial destruction processOne of the primary mechanisms by which smoking leads to heart attacks is its effect on the arteries. Smoking accelerates the process of atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, through a combination of inflammatory responses and direct damage to arterial walls. The toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke irritate and damage the lining of blood vessels, initiating a cycle of inflammation that gradually weakens and thickens arterial walls.
Over time, this damage promotes the buildup of fatty deposits, or plaque, inside the arteries. The plaque narrows and stiffens the arteries, reducing blood flow and increasing the likelihood of blockages. When a blockage occurs, it can result in a heart attack as the heart is deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly. This process often progresses unnoticed until a critical event, such as a heart attack, occurs.
Smoking's contribution to arterial damage is compounded by its effect on blood flow and clotting. As the arterial walls become weakened and plaque accumulates, the risk of blood clots forming within the arteries increases dramatically. A blood clot can completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, causing a heart attack.
Blood chemistry alterationsThe harmful effects of smoking on cardiovascular health extend to changes in blood chemistry. One of the most alarming consequences of smoking is its impact on blood clotting mechanisms. Smoking increases the production of fibrinogen, a protein involved in the clotting process, which makes the blood more prone to clotting.
In addition to this, smoking increases the adhesiveness of platelets, the small cells in the blood responsible for clot formation. When platelets become sticky, they are more likely to aggregate, leading to the formation of dangerous blood clots. These clots can travel through the bloodstream and block arteries, triggering heart attacks or strokes.
The combination of higher fibrinogen levels and more sticky platelets creates an environment that is primed for clot formation, significantly increasing the risk of sudden cardiovascular events. This alteration in blood chemistry is one of the most insidious effects of smoking, as it directly contributes to the development of life-threatening heart attacks and strokes.
Respiratory-cardiac connectionThe connection between smoking and heart attacks extends beyond just the direct damage to the heart and arteries. Chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are also strongly linked to smoking, and these conditions place additional strain on the heart.
COPD, which is often caused by long-term smoking, leads to a progressive decline in lung function. As the lungs become less efficient at oxygenating the blood, the heart must work harder to compensate. This additional burden on the heart increases the risk of heart failure, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular complications.
The relationship between respiratory and cardiovascular diseases emphasizes the intertwined nature of smoking's harmful effects on the body. Smoking not only damages the heart directly but also weakens the lungs, creating a vicious cycle that further compromises cardiovascular health.
Recovery through cessationOne of the most remarkable aspects of the human body is its ability to heal itself, and this is particularly evident when it comes to smoking cessation. Within just 24 hours of quitting smoking, cardiovascular indicators begin to improve. Blood pressure and heart rate start to return to normal levels, and the risk of heart attack decreases significantly.
Over time, the body's recovery continues. Within one year of quitting smoking, the risk of heart disease is halved, and after five years, the risk of heart attack drops to that of a non-smoker. This process of healing highlights the heart's resilience when given the chance to recover from the damage caused by smoking. While some effects of smoking may be irreversible, such as advanced atherosclerosis, quitting smoking significantly improves overall heart health and reduces the likelihood of future cardiovascular events.
Prevention strategiesIn light of the numerous dangers posed by smoking, modern approaches to smoking cessation combine both pharmaceutical support and behavioral interventions. Medications such as nicotine replacement therapies, along with counseling and support groups, provide smokers with effective tools to break free from nicotine addiction.
Additionally, preventive measures such as regular checkups and early screenings for heart disease are crucial for individuals who have smoked for years. Recognizing the signs of cardiovascular problems early on allows for timely interventions that can prevent serious complications like heart attacks.
Quitting smoking may be one of the most challenging endeavors for many individuals, but with the right support and a commitment to recovery, it is possible to reverse some of the damage done to the cardiovascular system.
Smoking Can Affect More Than Just Your Lungs
Beth Meloro, M.D. MUSC Health Vascular Surgeon
Quitting smoking is the best way to protect yourself from worsening cardiovascular disease. Smoking causes inflammation of the inner lining of the blood vessels, making them a magnet for cholesterol floating around in the bloodstream.
When the cholesterol sticks to and accumulates along the inside of the blood vessels, it slows down the blood flow and creates abnormal circulation. This can cause problems with not enough blood flow reaching its destination or can cause pieces of plaque (the hardened cholesterol on the inside of the vessel) to break off and create a blockage downstream.
These changes can occur in any and all arteries in your body. If the arteries in your neck are involved, the buildup of plaque can lead to a stroke. If the arteries in your legs are involved, plaque buildup can lead to loss of your foot or leg. If the arteries in your heart are involved, you may have a heart attack.
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The inflammation from smoking can even affect the aorta, the main artery that supplies branches to all of your extremities and organs. Smoking is associated with a significantly increased risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
The Society for Vascular Surgery notes that more than 90% of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm have smoked cigarettes at some point in their lifetime and that abdominal aortic aneurysm is second only to lung cancer in terms of medical problems linked to smoking.
According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, each year of smoking increases the relative risk for developing an aneurysm by 4%. Not only does smoking increase the risk of developing an aneurysm, it can also increase the rate of aneurysm growth and risk of rupture. When an aneurysm grows to a certain size, it is at risk of rupturing, which often leads to death.
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for cardiovascular disease that you have the ability to control! Unfortunately, quitting smoking does not reverse the damage that has already been done.
In fact, patients who have a history of smoking, even if they've quit, are encouraged to undergo screening for certain vascular conditions that are known to be worsened by smoking. Nevertheless, by quitting smoking, the inflammation within the blood vessels improves and, therefore, halts the buildup of plaque, preventing the narrowing or blockage of the arteries from getting any worse.
Dr. Beth Meloro is accepting new patients at MUSC Health Florence Medical Center. For more information, or to schedule an appointment please call MUSC Health Cardiovascular Surgery at (843) 676-2760, or visit MUSCHealth.Org/Florence.
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