I admit I've always been a bit indifferent about 24-year-old vocal sensation Amy Winehouse. I do believe she has an amazing voice and certainly knows how to capture the public eye as well as some of the young females who cover the tabloids in the U.S. But with her recent announcement (through her U.S publicist) that she is already showing early signs of emphysema secondary to her years of smoking, I was initially perplexed in her decision to go public with a lung ailment that is often associated with elderly life-long smokers.

You see, emphysema is a progressive lung disease that results from damage to the small air sacs (alveoli) of the lung which ultimately obstructs the airflow during the breathing process. Depending upon the damage from the disease, it may result in shortness of breath when involved with moderate physical activity (like playing tennis or basketball) or just walking from one room to another. Often it takes years for the symptoms to appear, when the physiological changes of the lungs become irreversible. 

But why did she go public? I see the answer being two-fold. One, she may be trying to generate some empathy (at least here in the U.S.) and with that create a new image where millions of dollars could follow. But I will leave that for the publicists and tabloids to spin. Two (and the one I will be discussing with my adolescent patients), she is allowing herself to be an example of what can occur if one doesn't take care of oneself, even at the young age of 24. Ms. Winehouse is dispelling the myth that this disease only affects 40-year smokers now in their 60s as research has shown that teens smoking even just 5 cigarettes a day can begin this path of irreversible damage to the lungs. Furthermore, she reminds us all of the negative consequences attributed to smoking, including chronic bronchitis, heart disease, and cancer.

First and foremost, I do hope Ms. Winehouse gets the care and treatment she needs to put herself down a path of a healthier lifestyle. And I also applaud her for coming forward as I believe she will help others from following the path she has chosen to this point.

Dr. Jeremy