Amy Winehouse Officially Diseased

121. The roots of Amy's self-destructive tendencies must be very deep. I can't imagine what awful thing happened to her at some point in her short life.

Posted at 4:05PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by rhea

122. Wow, #96, Med Guy, that genetic condition runs in my family. I wonder if I know you. It's a very rare condition. When I read the story, I thought of the genetic condition, as my cousin was told she would develop it, but she never did. However, good advice, since she is so young, and there are many people that do what she does and don't have that problem at that age. So, Krish, Med Guy, is that you? Just wondering. Also, both parents have to have the condition in order for Amy to come down with emphysema, right? If one parent has it, then they are just a carrier with no real threat of getting the disease, right or wrong?

Posted at 4:00PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by sheba

123. That is NO joke hopefully she will QUIT all the Junk she's into CRACK IS WACK...these damn stars think they are invincible

Posted at 4:21PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Jessica

124. Tweekin' like a MOFO. ^^^^

Posted at 4:32PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Crackhead

125. Myelle - you don't start having an addiction until you start putting a substance into your body. How the hell does that make it a disease? It's not contagious, you aren't born with it, you have to Start it. You have to make the decision to take the substance. It's so easy to say I'm addicted and keep doing whatever...

Amy wanted to do drugs, she liked doing drugs, she still likes it and if it kills her, that's her decision. Let her suffocate.

Posted at 4:59PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Lucy Phoenix

126. And don't start with the crack babies. I'm talking about Myelle and skank-face and neither were born with the addiction.

Posted at 5:00PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Lucy Phoenix

127. Sheba (#118):

You are absolutely right that in order to develop Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency you must have received two flawed 14th chromosomes (1 from each parent). If one parent is a carrier, you have a 1 in 4 chance of being a carrier (most carriers have no symptoms over the course of their lives, however, recent research does point to an increased occurance of colon cancer in carriers). If both parents are carriers then you have a 1 in 4 chance of inheriting fine genes, a 50% chance of being a carrier, and a 1 in 4 chance of having the disease. In infants, this disease often expresses itself in significant liver disease as the flawed chromosomes actually prevent release of a lung-protective chemical from your liver. Without this protection the lungs are destroyed. With the liver not releasing this chemical, the build-up in the liver can lead to cirrohsis or liver cancer. It is critical to be tested for this genetic condition as unlike emphysema that is acquired through smoking (manifested in upper lobe disease), this emphysema (which manifests itself in the lower lobes) occurs in both smokers and non-smokers with non-smokers possibly having a decade or more longer to live than non-smokers. This condition destroys the lungs any time you come by any irritant (cologne, perfumed soaps, the common cold or bronchitis, dust, pollen, etc). The pneumovax vaccine is critical in those with the condition in order to protect them from potentially catastrophic lung destruction from pneumonia. For anyone who is a smoker, this underlying condition can prove dire and fatal fast. In terms of those most likely to have the genetic disease in their families, this has proven to be a disease more often noted in those of Northern European background. It is prevalent in Italians and Irish and also has a high occurance in Scandinavian folks (it was discovered by a Swede in 1963). Overall, people need to be very careful in placing blame on those with emphysema as quite possibly, while smoking doesn't help the situation, it may not have been the initial cause of the emphysema. For anyone with the condition, good exercise, immediate cessation of smoking, and some replacement therapy is available. talk to your doctor and go only with their advice if you smoke or suspect you may have a problem.

PS: I am not the Krish person that you noted.

Posted at 5:44PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Med Guy

128. SHE'S A CRACK WHORE I'M SURPRISED SHE 'S NOT DEAD ALREADY

Posted at 10:35AM on Jun 24th 2008 by sweetie89

129. Emphysema is not "contracted". It is not a communicable disease that one can "catch" from another person. It is a disease that evolves over time due to damage to the lung tissue. It hardens that aveoli of lungs, making it harder for them to expand and thus decrease the capability of gas exchange in the lungs. 70% percent lung function in a 24 year old is very concerning. Oh, and the condition is not curable/reversable.

Posted at 7:30PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by peachygb87

130. #124 Med Guy, Thanks for the information. Unfortunately, the brother of my cousin I was speaking about died in his 20's with liver problems that they were aware of since his birth. But his sister is okay and will not have a problem with emphysema like they thought. Oddly, my grandmother on that side of the family had colon cancer. So your information is interesting. And both of the parents were carriers. Again, thanks a lot.

Posted at 8:49PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by sheba

131. she made the choice to do this to herself, i don't feel sorry for her one bit!

Posted at 9:50PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Belle2004

132. what? no update, retraction, or apology? i'm shocked! oh, wait this is TMZ, not real news. Sorry, forgot.....

Posted at 1:35AM on Jun 24th 2008 by spankfreak

133. I have always found this website to be diseased in and of itself. Here we have a mentally and physically ill young woman in desperate need of solace, and detractors like you only want to profit from it because she's so "crazy" and helps you sell a story. You all like flies to sh*t. Is nothing sacred? You should stop with the mocking and allow her the space and time to heal. You people need to have a wee bit more integrity and respect. She's a human being like anyone else--a very talented person with serious health issues, sure, but just let her be. I consider you people enemies to art and humanity.

Posted at 5:04PM on Jun 24th 2008 by alexandersupertramp

134. Uh...emphysema is not contracted like tuberculsis. It develops over time. She can still smoke crack for years before she keels over.

Posted at 7:04AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Tiffany

135. leave amy alone

Posted at 1:07PM on Jul 1st 2008 by ashly