Nick Cannon wants to stay alive for his kids ''more than anything''.

The 'American Idol' host - who suffered mild kidney failure earlier this year, and was hospitalised with blood clots on his lungs last month - has changed his life pattern because he is ''scared'' of dying and leaving behind his wife Mariah Carey and their 10-month-old twins Moroccan and Monroe.

Nick - who has been married to the singer since 2008 - said: ''I want to be there for my children. You want to make sure you're alive more than anything. I'm having a good time, though.

''It's scary when you think about your health -- where it can go -- but when you're doing it for the right reasons, and I've overcome so much in the past few months, it's good.''

But the 31-year-old star initially thought doctors were ''joking'' when they warned him he might die if he did not slow down.

He added to America's OK! magazine: ''I thought it was them over-exaggerating. [I was,] like, 'Yeah, right.' And then, when I had a couple more scares and things got serious, I was, like, 'Okay, this isn't a joke. I've got to change the way I'm living my life.' ''

Since being warned about his health, Nick quit his drive-time radio show on 92.3 NOW FM ''under doctor's orders'' last month, and he is now being ''nursed'' back to health by Mariah.

He explained: ''She's always taking care of me. She's my nurse. She makes sure I take all my medications, makes sure I eat. It's great!''

Despite his health concerns, Nick plans to continue presenting 'America's Got Talent' - which is set to start filming again this summer in New York City - because he believes it's ''going to be the biggest show in the world''.