Decades of smoking have taken a toll on Barry Manilow’s health and now the 74-year-old singer is facing a “cancer crisis,” according to a sensational report today in US publication The National Enquirer.
“Barry’s health has been severely compromised,” a source tells the publication. “He’s battling multiple major issues that could drastically shorten his life – even end it – and it’s all tied to his ongoing, incessant smoking.”
The Mandy crooner had to cancel some shows in May, the excuse being he had “sprained” vocal cords. He managed to pick himself up and perform at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, N.Y., but his voice was “a raspy croak” and he looked “worryingly thin and frail,” claims the publication.
Medical experts agree that Barry isn’t doing himself any good by continuing his smoking habit.
“Cigarette smoke is carcinogenic –this has been known for 50 years,” Dr. Stuart Fischer, who has not treated Manilow himself, tells The Enquirer. “Barry is playing with fire.”
And Dr. Gabe Mirkin, author of The Healthy Heart Miracle, who isn’t the singer’s physician, adds: “Smoking has already destroyed many of Barry’s cilia, so his bronchial tubes are no doubt now full of mucus blocking the flow of air in and out of his lungs. With continued smoking, he will have so much mucus blocking his bronchial tubes that he will be at increased risk for smothering to death.”
The Enquirer reports that Barry doesn’t just smoke cigarettes – he’s also partial to e-cigarettes and marijuana.
“Barry’s been hooked for long, it’s only a matter of time until it catches up to him,” says the source.
Barry has yet to comment on the Enquirer‘s allegations.
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