http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7468655.stm

Singer Winehouse has lung disease
     
Amy Winehouse

Read the full Mitch Winehouse interview

Singer Amy Winehouse has "traces" of the lung disease emphysema but is "responding brilliantly to treatment", her father has said.

Mitch Winehouse told BBC Radio 1 his daughter would recover "completely" as long as she stopped smoking.

The star has now been in hospital for a week, but her father said she would perform at the Glastonbury Festival and Nelson Mandela concert this weekend.

Emphysema is caused by lung damage and can start as mild breathlessness.

It eventually means the body does not get enough oxygen, leading to further breathing problems and even contribute to death.

"There's a small amount there which hasn't gone too far and it's completely repairable," Mr Winehouse said.

The 24-year-old fell ill last week after fainting at her London home.

"With patience, her lungs will recover completely and she's responding brilliantly to treatment - she's actually flourishing," Mr Winehouse said.

He added that doctors had given his daughter permission to perform at the weekend.

"She will be well enough - not could be - she's well enough to be at Glastonbury now," he said.

But Dr Keith Prowse, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, said emphysema was not curable.

"Once it's there, it's there - it is possible to have it and not be bothered by symptoms, but if you continued to smoke it would cause it to progress rapidly," he told the BBC.

     
If Amy stops smoking, it's not going to interfere with her singing
Dr Keith Prowse
British Lung Foundation

"If Amy stops smoking, it's not going to interfere with her singing and she probably won't have any trouble from it."

But in the late stages of the disease, a singer would "struggle to find the breath to perform effectively", he said.

Emphysema kills 30,000 people in the UK every year and is caused by gradual damage to the structure of the lungs, which makes it harder to exhale.

It usually affects older people as it is due to cumulative damage over a long period, such as a lifetime of smoking.

Dr Prowse also said more young drug addicts were presenting with the condition.

'Stay away'

"People are starting to use drugs much younger these days so it is present much earlier," he said.

"They are smoking cigarettes heavily anyway and we know some of the other things that damage the lungs - cannabis for example.

"But they're not eating a reasonable diet and have a lifestyle which predisposes damage."

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Mr Winehouse also called for his daughter's drug dealers and circle of drug addict pals to stay away from her.

"I'm saying to those drug dealers, and they know who they are, if they are supplying crack to Amy, then they've got to take responsibility," he said.

"I don't want her hanging out with her mates like Pete Doherty either. What hope does she have if people are taking drugs around her?"

speedfreakjive wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2008 at 11:02am:


Well the article said she'll be fine to perform.

Early warning?

let this be a warning to anyone over the age of 25, to not start smoking rocks and cigarettes. Anyone under 25, like you'll bother caring...

Haha!!!

I hope she can stop smoking or she'll be dead very young. I've met several recovering drug addicts in the past and while they were able to stop heroin and crack they were never able to quit smoking.

Monday, June 23, 2008


After undergoing treatment for the past few days, Amy Winehouse was spotted leaving her exclusive London rehab center on Monday (June 23) - quickly lighting up a cigarette before hitting the shops to pick up a few items.

Suffering from a nasty chest infection, it’s rumored that the 24-year-old “Rehab” singer is leaving to prepare for Nelson Mandela’s birthday celebrations and Glastonbury.

Meanwhile, as  previously reported by Gossip Girls, Amy’s dad spoke to press about her medical state, telling: “With smoking the crack cocaine and the cigarettes her lungs are all gunked up.  There are nodules around the chest and dark marks. She’s got 70 percent lung capacity.”



“When we got to the hospital a room was ready.  Several doctors came in and checked to make sure she didn’t need any emergency treatment. They put her on a drip straight away because she was dehydrated. She said, ‘Don’t worry about me, dad. I know I’ve got to stop taking drugs now.’”

“She’s got emphysema.  It’s in its early stages, but had it gone on for another month they painted a very vivid picture of her sitting there like an old person with a mask on her face struggling to breathe.”


Enjoy the first pictures of Amy Winehouse upon release from her medical treatment (June 23).
http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/amy-winehouse-leaves-clini...

The best new talent in years.

Holden wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2008 at 6:52pm:


Yup.  they can be so hot before they do that shit.  What ever happened to doing a few lines of coke a night?   Chicks were so much hotter on that shit.

Holden wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2008 at 6:52pm:

I was thinking the very same thing.  She's ugly.  

I'm about six months away from my prediction about her.
I hope I'm wrong.

I know she's young, and that she's in the "early stages", but the fact that she lights up the minute she's out of the hospital is NOT a good sign. 70% lung capacity is NOT good. She shows no sign of taking this seriously. She is going to kill herself. She really is. 

open-g wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2008 at 5:38pm:

I decided I don't want to have sex with her - too damn skinny!