David Lynch Diagnosed with Smoking-Induced Emphysema

Esteemed Hollywood director David Lynch was recently diagnosed with emphysema. A lifelong smoker, Lynch revealed to his 3.1 million Twitter followers that he received the diagnosis over two years ago. He 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."

Lynch, who hasn't directed anything since 2017's Twin Peaks: The Return, also revealed that the diagnosis has left him requiring supplemental oxygen even for travelling small distances.

Lynch is not the first, nor will he be the last celebrity to be diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . The late Amy Winehouse was diagnosed with early-stage emphysema 3 years prior to her passing; actors Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum were both sadly taken by the disease, as was iconic Tonight Show host Johnny Carson.

Emphysema is a lung disease that affects a person's breathing due to damage to the tiny air sacs in the lungs. This means they are no longer able to hold enough air. Emphysema doesn't just affect your breathing and lungs; as your lungs struggle to take in oxygen, your mobility can be affected too.

And as Lynch has discovered, a lack of lung function can seriously hinder mobility - he has told fans that "I can hardly walk across a room". In the most advanced stages , emphysema, people require oxygen just to hold a conversation.

As a mobility aids provider, we understand the products that work best for those struggling with respiratory issues like emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and COPD.

Emphysema and COPD do not only affect smokers though, autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can also result in chronic lung damage leading to emphysema and other lung conditions.

Maintaining Mobility with Respiratory Issues

Since mobility is one of the many areas affected by illnesses like emphysema, it's important to consider products that can help you stay mobile.

If, like Lynch, you find that you need an oxygen tank to breathe, then products like the proLite Visage tri-walker are excellent options. The Visage comes with a strong and lightweight frame that allows for easier movement and has ample space for a small oxygen cylinder.

Equally useful are the Tuni Spectra and the Evo Suspension Walker , both of which come with handy carry bags for any odds and ends you might have, and can also provide a simple carry option for smaller tanks.

If, however, you find that movement in general has become too cumbersome for you, then mobility scooters such as the compact Li-Tech Spectrum and the larger Abilize Kondor are excellent alternatives. The Spectrum is great for getting about town, while the Kondor is a covered road scooter, meaning it can handle any journey in all weathers.

Sometimes, it's not just mobility that is affected. Sometimes the simple pleasures of sitting back and relaxing in a comfy chair in front of the fire can seem a daunting task for the fear of having to get into the chair and having to get out.

This is where products like a riser recliner can come in particularly useful.

Chairs like the Luxbury Riser Recliner can be the difference, especially if getting out of your chair is an issue for you, and, as an added bonus, you can enjoy some relaxing heat and massage therapies while you recline.

As a mobility aids provider, we understand that these are not always the most glamorous of purchases. But in many ways, these can be seen as present to yourself to make your life a little bit easier.

As FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper says in Lynch and Mark Frost's seminal Twin Peaks: "Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen." Being kind to yourself is more important than ever as you grow older.