Did Rohit Bal Pass Away From A Rare Heart Condition: We Broke Down Cardiomyopathy For You

On Friday, renowned fashion designer Rohit Bal, who Time Magazine had labelled ‘India's Master of fabric and fantasy’ in 1996, passed away at the age of 63. He was hospitalised in the ICU a week before his final appearance in October. He presented his last collection Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe as a part of the FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week. This was his last show.

Bal has been suffering from a cardiac disease known as dilated cardiomyopathy for quite some time. It is a condition in which the heart muscle weakens and grows, rendering it incapable of effectively pumping blood to the body's other organs.

According to news sources, he died after being admitted to the hospital on Friday night.

Bal had an angioplasty in 2010 after suffering a heart attack. He was very unwell when he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram in November 2023. According to news reports, he was also on ventilator support.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is defined by an enlarged heart chamber, which weakens the heart muscle. It is usually caused by long-term substance usage, viral infections, or hereditary diseases.

Young athletes are more likely to develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle enlarges and blocks blood flow. Although rare, restrictive cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle stiffens and loses suppleness, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.

Cardiomyopathy symptoms include fatigue, dyspnoea, limb oedema, and irregular heartbeat. Imaging studies, such as echocardiograms, are typically used to make the diagnosis, with genetic testing being used in rare circumstances.

Depending on the type and severity, treatment options may include medication, lifestyle changes, or surgery.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: The most frequent variety, causes the heart chambers to weaken and enlarge, resulting in reduced pumping efficacy. Long-term high blood pressure, virus infections, alcohol misuse, and genetic predisposition can all exacerbate the problem.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The thickening of the heart muscle in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is typically hereditary, can compromise blood flow and raise the risk of arrhythmias.

It can occasionally induce sudden cardiac arrest, which is more common in young athletes.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy is a less frequent type of cardiomyopathy in which the heart muscle stiffens and loses flexibility, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood. It could potentially be related to disorders like amyloidosis or hemochromatosis.

Diagnosis is used to make the diagnosis. Physical tests and imaging procedures, such as echocardiograms, as well as genetic testing in rare circumstances, are utilised.

Depending on the type and severity of the problem, treatment options may include lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise), medications (such as beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors), and, in severe situations, surgery (such as implanted devices or heart transplants).

Cardiomyopathy management also requires changes in lifestyle, following medicines and regular check-ups to the doctor. Patients are often advised to maintain open channels of communication with medical experts and to be knowledgeable about their illnesses.