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

Famed filmmaker David Lynch, 78, says that while he loved everything about smoking, he stopped two years ago after being diagnosed with emphysema.

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. 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. “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.”

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