Jacqui Gray, a 46-year-old mother of two, took Cowell’s advice, went to a doctor and was diagnosed with bronchiectasis -- an incurable, potentially deadly lung infection, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday.

Now that she has been diagnosed, Gray, who works in a law firm, will be on steroids for the rest of her life.

"I already knew I had a chest infection, but I had no idea it was that bad," Gray told the newspaper. "Simon Cowell and (co-host) Sharon Osborne saved my life and I would just like to thank them. God knows what would have happened if I had left it for much longer; it could have been far more serious."