Renowned tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain has passed away in San Francisco on December 15, 2024, leaving behind a void in the world of classical music. His family attributed his death to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease that causes scarring of the lungs.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a chronic and serious condition characterized by inflammation or scarring of the lungs. It affects millions of air sacs, making it difficult for them to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The disease worsens over time, leading to shortness of breath, fatigue, and weight loss.
Risk factors for IPF include smoking, age (rare in people under 50), family history, exposure to certain dust types, viral infections, and gastro-oesophageal reflux. Early symptoms may be absent, while later stages may bring on coughing, dryness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and swelling of fingertips.
Diagnosing IPF typically involves collecting medical history information, performing CT scans and blood tests, and monitoring lung function with tests such as carbon monoxide diffusion and six-minute walk tests. A lung biopsy can be performed in rare cases.
Treatment options for IPF include medications to slow down fibrosis, supplemental oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation (exercises), and treatment for gastro-oesophageal reflux. While there is no specific cure, patients may live for around 5 years with the disease.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/ustad-zakir-hussain-died-of-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-what-is-this-lung-condition/article68994802.ece