Hussain was hospitalized for nearly two weeks and later moved to intensive care as his health worsened
Zakir Hussain Death Reason: Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away in a San Francisco hospital on Monday, his family has confirmed. The 73-year-old was battling health issues, and his death resulted from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis—a lung disease, according to his family.
Hussain was hospitalized for nearly two weeks and later moved to intensive care as his health worsened.
"His prolific work as a teacher, mentor, and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians ever," Hussain's family said in a statement.
What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
According to experts, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a group of serious lung diseases that affect the respiratory system. Pulmonary fibrosis scars and thickens lung tissue, impacting the connecting tissue in the lung and the alveoli—the air sacs inside the lungs.
Doctors say for those battling this life-threatening condition, the lung damage gradually gets worse over time. Hard, stiff lung tissues do not expand as well as they should, making it harder to breathe and causing shortness of breath even while doing routine tasks that never seemed tiring before.
Healthcare providers consider pulmonary fibrosis a terminal illness and a progressive disease that gets worse over time as there is no cure, and it eventually leads to death. Even though medicines and therapies can sometimes help slow down the rate of fibrosis, ease symptoms, and improve quality of life, a lung transplant can be an option to save a life.
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis
Doctors say the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis can vary greatly from one person to another. While some people become ill very quickly with severe disease, others have moderate symptoms that worsen more slowly over months or years. A few of these are:
- Breathlessness and shortness of breath
- Dry cough
- Extreme tiredness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
- Aching muscles and joints
- Widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes—also known as clubbing
Who is more likely to get pulmonary fibrosis?
According to doctors, there are many risk factors, like smoking, that make it more likely you could develop pulmonary fibrosis. But even having one or more risk factors does not mean you will for sure get the disease one day.
Other risk factors of pulmonary fibrosis include:
Old age
Most people who get pulmonary fibrosis develop it in the second half of life, between ages 50 and 70 years.
Being a biological male
Pulmonary fibrosis affects more men than women. However, cases in women have risen in recent years.
Smoking
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of getting pulmonary fibrosis.
Working around dust or fumes
Regularly breathing in chemicals or hazardous substances can damage the lungs. Farmers, ranchers, hairdressers, stone cutters/polishers, and metal workers may be at increased risk.
Other medical conditions
In some cases, another medical condition like an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or a viral infection leads to pulmonary fibrosis.
Other factors
Radiation exposure, such as radiation therapy to treat cancer, can damage lung tissue.
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