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American Morning
Comedian Struggles with Ill Effects of Smoking
Aired July 04, 2001 - 11:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LAURIN SYDNEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Robert Klein is best known for his stand-up comedy on late night talk shows and HBO specials, but his message today is no laughing matter. He is here to talk about a disease which he has and is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S.
Joining us now to bring awareness to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is admitted smokeaholic Robert Klein and Dr. Kelly Green from the National Jewish Hospital in Denver. Welcome to both of you.
ROBERT KLEIN, COMEDIAN: Thank you.
SYDNEY: Now Robert, I consider myself medically savvy, and I never heard of this. You were diagnosed in '93. What is it and what are the symptoms?
KLEIN: Well, it's destruction. It's damaged lunges tissue from having smoked which you cannot achieve, and I took this spirometer test where you blow in and my friend, my doctor showed me how I've lost lung function, and there is therapies for. It gave this inhaler, a couple of puffs, and then a few minutes later do the test again and it increased.
So, in other words, people have to find out about this. Don't go when there's an end game and you can't breathe anymore. I'm fine. I exercise vigorously. I hope I never smoke again. One time you helped my stopped smoking. It's too long a story. But even if someone smokes, they can get help this way.
There is a Web site, it's called www.thebreathingspace.com. There's a lot of people who don't that this exists but Dr. Green here, she sees a lot of it.
SYDNEY: Dr. Green, for our viewers at home, when do you know to call the doctor? When it's just a little cough -- what's the true symptoms?
DR. KELLY GREEN, NATIONAL JEWISH HOSPITAL: The signs and symptoms of COPDR are primarily cough and mucus production earlier on, but a lot of people ignore that and deem it smoker's cough and don't end up going into their physician until they are really short of breath and can't do their daily activities, can't mow the lawn or take care of their kids and we are encouraging me to come in when they actually may not even have symptoms. If they're a smoker, we're encouraging people to go in an get screened with this spirometry, which Robert did and get tested.
SYDNEY: And is that painful? Is that a difficult test?
KLEIN: No.
GREEN: It's a non-painful test. You breathe into a tube, and it gives a lot of information about your lung function, and even if you have normal lung function at that point, it's a helpful thing to going and see your physician, stop smoking and get treatment if you are having problems.
KLEIN: It's the simplest thing. It's like blowing into a toilet paper roll and if you're competitive, the doctor says go on, give it, give it, you're making a meter.
SYDNEY: Do you that do that often, blowing into the toilet paper rolls?
KLEIN: It keeps me out of the streets and out of trouble with the police. Listen, cat, you look so beautiful.
SYDNEY: Thank you. An admitted smokeaholic, and you've quit four times, this being your last. I know that. I have total faith in you.
KLEIN: Twelve years since I had a cigarette.
SYDNEY: What advice can you give anyone out there right now who is just struggling with that decision?
KLEIN: Well, there was an old book that's out in print now called "How to Stop Smoking" by Herbert Green. You have to want to. It has to be incredibly important to you and I always felt guilty. You see these people out in February or even on a beautiful June day, outside office buildings, getting that smoke.
It's sort of sad, and I think most people feel badly about it. They are feeling they're letting their family down and so forth. Pick a day, do it; maybe a pitch or maybe read a book. Whatever works for you, but it has to be important enough and it's quite doable. It is one of the most compelling addictions in the world.
KLEIN: Now, to show that you had the disease, you had this diagnosed and you're being treated and your lung capacity is terrific, you want to play us out with your harmonica.
KLEIN: Oh, yes.
SYDNEY: Not with your toilet paper roll.
KLEIN: I think for these I'll need glasses. I can see the notes better.
(singing): I went to the doctor, he took a look at me. He told me that I had COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
See how I can blow that harmonica?
SYDNEY: So proud.
KLEIN: Even if you still smoke. It's not an excuse to keep smoking. You can get help.
SYDNEY: Absolutely. Dr. Green, Mr. Klein, thank you both so much.
KLEIN: Dr. Klein.
SYDNEY: Of course, the doctors, thank you so much for bringing awareness.
KLEIN: Klein.
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