Zakir Hussain Death News
Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain dies on Monday in San Francisco hospital; was 73. His death occurred from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which is this rare and progressive lung disease. He was admitted to the hospital for the last two weeks. When his condition worsened, he was shifted to the ICU.
He is survived by his wife, Kathak dancer Antonia Minnecola, and his two daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi.
What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease that interferes with the tissue surrounding the air sacs, or alveoli, in your lungs. According to the National Institute of Health, it occurs when that tissue becomes thick and rigid, resulting in permanent scarring, which they term fibrosis, and this makes it very difficult to breathe. So, when they say “idiopathic,” it simply means they have no idea what is causing the condition, and the American Lung Association agrees.
Symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
The risk factors for IPF include smoking, older age, and family history of the disease. The common symptoms are persistent cough and shortness of breath. Although some individuals may not notice symptoms initially, they often worsen as the disease progresses.
The rate of progression varies; for some, scarring develops slowly over years, while for others, it worsens rapidly. Many patients experience acute exacerbations, where symptoms intensify suddenly.
You can easily get into complications such as pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure, where your body may find it difficult to gain sufficient oxygen.
Treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
So, there is no cure for IPF, but there are treatments that can help slow it down, boost lung function, and make life a bit better for folks dealing with it. The NHS has shared some good tips for managing IPF, like:
- Quit Smoking: If you smoke, quitting can benefit your lungs significantly.
- Stay Active: Exercise can help people’s bodies become healthy.
- Proper Eating: It feeds your body to deal with the sickness.
- Get your shots: Be sure to get your annual flu vaccine, and pneumococcal vaccines, as infections in your lungs can become worse for people with IPF.
- Avoid Infections: Minimize exposure to those with colds or respiratory infections.
Zakir Hussain: Misinformation about His Death
The death of Zakir Hussain had gone viral on social media, evoking tributes from fans, politicians, and celebrities all around the world. His nephew, Ameer Aulia, quickly dispelled those rumors, stating on social media that his uncle was alive but critically ill. He urged the public to pray for him and for the media to avoid making false announcements.
His manager Nirmala Bachani says that Hussain has had patients with blood pressure difficulties and has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with heart problems and was in a grave state. Reports may have come out early claiming he had died but tributes have already flowed-in from Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who expressed their concern about the condition of the evergreen musician.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also mistakenly tweeted a tribute, which it later deleted.
The Legacy of Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain, whose father was the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha, is regarded as the greatest percussionist of all times. He created his mark in the history of music in 1973 by presenting his first international project that was an Indian classical jazz brand, along with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist Vikku Vinayakram.
Hussain has bagged his Grammys five times and won three more earlier this year at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. His name is permanently written amongst the immortals of sound due to the mammoth music that he created and thus inspired future generations of musicians across the globe.