Michael Jackson, Health Rumors, and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
News reports, perhaps misinformed, suggested that the King of Pop needs a lung transplant
Reader Comments
Alpha-1
Michael Jackson Could have had Alpha-1, but not have serious symptons as of yet. I am a carrier, and my ex-husband either was a carrier or had Alpha-1(he is deceased, but was on oxygen the last year he lived).We had three children together and all three have Alpha-1. One of my sons(age 40) has emphysema and is testing to get on the lung transplant list He is M/Z but worked in pain and body shops for many years where he was exposed to paint fumes. This made his condition much worse.
The other two ages,38 and 42 are showing no symptons at this time(they are both Z/Z) They both eat healthy and exercise daily. All of the children from all three are carriers. Five kids total.
We only discovered this in March of this year when my son with emphysema changed doctors and this guy had the foresight to test him for Alpha-1. I had never heard of Alpha-1 before and am not sure which one of my parents (both deceased)I got the bad gene from.
This has been a shock and really overwhelming for all of my family. It is affecting all of us and I feel guilty that I passed this on unknowingly to my children and grandchildren.
alpha1
I don't know if it was ever confirmed that MJ had Alpha-1 or not. At least it may bring more awareness. If in fact he did I hope and pray that his family will take heed and get tested. Knowledge is power and it is very easy to get tested. There is alot of help and information at www.alphaone.org . The Alpha-1 Foundation, Alpha-1 Association, AlphaNet and Alpha Kids are all great resouces for information and help.
alpha 1
I have alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency, and it also affects the liver aswell as the lungs.
Although the article is correct, it is only outlining the problems it can cause with lungs (obviously because it was the lungs which caused the problem with MJ), but it has missed how it can affect the liver aswell.
As a result of the condition, i am unable to smoke or consume too much alcohol, aswell as watching which medication i can take, i also have asthma, so my lungs are affected by the alpha 1 aswell. Though i am lucky because i was diagnosed when i was 3 weeks old, and as i have gotten older, the severity of the condition has decreased.
If MJ was unaware of himself having the condition, it may have contributed towards his death, because the painkillers he was on may have disagreed with the condition.
Ofcourse it is sad to hear that MJ may have alpha 1, but some good may come of it, because it might open eyes to alpha 1, as it is a common gene, even though it rarely occurs.
Alpha-1
I am not going to say that Michael Jackson didn't have Alpha-1; but there is no way that anyone will ever try and tell me that he had it bad enough to have to have a lung transplant.
He may have been a carrier of Alpha-1. MAYBE! Whick that I doubt.
Why do I say all this, Because I have Alpha-1, am on oxygen 24/7; and let me assure you that if you have Alpha-1, you sure can't "Moon Walk" across a stage. Your lucky you can walk across it.
I was much younger the Michael Jackson when I found out that I was ZZ; and anyone that has Alpha-1 knows just what that means.
and I am only a few years older than him now.
I am sorry, but I do not believe that Michael Jackson had Alpha-1.
And another thing. Alpha-1 is inherited ONLY; you can't catch it if someone sneezes. So that means that either his mother of father have it, "Which that is obvious they don't" or one of them is a carrier of it.
And with as many children as they have, let me assure you, {and I talk from experience and fact}; just one child out of that many is not going to be the only one with it.
People with Alpha-1 that need to get a lung transplant, are in a lot worse shape the Michael Jackson ever was.
af
And now he is dead.
af
And now he is dead.
Health they say is wealth
If transplant is the best option,I would encourage that but with reasonable duty of care attached. Jackson is one person that is still loved & relevant in pop world all over the world. Take it or leave it. I care about his health too.
Health they say is wealth
If transplant is the best option,I would encourage that but with reasonable duty of care attached. Jackson is one person that is still loved & relevant in pop world all over the world. Take it or leave it. I care about his health too.
health
I think transplant is a risk worth taking because I feel is a push-up for one to survive attacks from ailments he or she is/was encountering in the past time.
Diagnosis
Alpha1 is diagnosed by a simple blood test.
