STAR TREK icon LEONARY NIMOY’s grim admission – dread lung disease COPD even though he quit smoking over 30 years ago.
Nimoy, 82, who won worldwide acclaim as the half-human half extraterrestrial Vulcan Mr. Spock on the classic sci-fi STAR TREK TV series and movies admits he has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Nimoy made the announcement via Twitter after he was snapped being wheeled through a JFK airport in New York with an oxygen tube attached up his nose.
Nimoy who closes his Tweets with LLAP for “Live Long and Prosper,” recently retired from full-time acting and even he admits the lung ailment is more than slowing him down.
“I'm doing OK. Just can't walk distances. Love my life,family, friends and followers. LLAP” he Tweeted yesterday.
According to the National Institute of Health, COPD causes coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and other breathing-related issues and is generally caused by smoking cigarettes. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to NIH.
Nimoy warned, “Smokers, please understand. If you quit after you're diagnosed with lung damage it's too late. Grandpa says learn my lesson. Quit now. LLAP.”
