'Amy has early stage emphysema': Dad

Washington, June 23 : British soul diva Amy Winehouse, who is presently hospitalised and being treated for chest infection, has early stage emphysema and an irregular heartbeat, her father Mitch Winehouse has revealed.

In an emotional interview with the Sunday Mirror, Mitch said that his daughter, who collapsed at her north London home last Monday, damaged her lungs by smoking crack cocaine and cigarettes.

He said that doctors have warned that she will have to wear an oxygen mask unless she stops smoking drugs.

"With smoking the crack cocaine and the cigarettes her lungs are all gunked up. There are nodules around the chest and dark marks. She's got 70 percent lung capacity," People quoted Mitch, as telling the newspaper.

"She's got emphysema. It's in its early stages, but had it gone on for another month they painted a very vivid picture of her sitting there like an old person with a mask on her face struggling to breathe," he added.

Tests so far have ruled out tuberculosis, but Mitch says his daughter has serious health problems.

"When we got to the hospital a room was ready. Several doctors came in and checked to make sure she didn't need any emergency treatment," he said.

"They put her on a drip straight away because she was dehydrated. She said, 'Don't worry about me, dad. I know I've got to stop taking drugs now,'" he added.

ANI