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Itisha Arya

Bollywood Legend Dharmendra Dies At 89: Why Respiratory Ailments Are Tougher To Treat In The Elderly

dharmendra death cause

Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra passed away on Monday morning in Mumbai at the age of 89, police sources at the cremation ground confirmed. The actor, who had featured in over 300 films across a remarkable career, had been unwell for about a month. His final rites were performed at the Pawan Hans crematorium.

Dharmendra was just weeks away from his 90th birthday on December 8. He had been hospitalised in October for breathlessness, placed on ventilator support, and discharged on November 12. He passed away at his home in Mumbai on November 24, 2025.

Legendary actor Dharmendra has passed away at 89. Fondly remembered as the 'He-Man' of Indian cinema, he leaves behind a career spanning over six decades and more than 300 films. The country mourns an icon who shaped an era of Hindi cinema. While the official cause of death has not been formally announced, sources close to the family indicate that his passing was linked to long-standing age-related health issues. 

In the past weeks, Dharmendra had been hospitalised multiple times for respiratory problems, including a stay at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital in early November.

Reports suggest he was on ventilator support for some time and later discharged to continue treatment at home. Age-related complications, including breathing difficulties, appear to have played a role in his declining health.

<h2>Why Respiratory Ailments Are Tougher To Treat In The Elderly?</h2>

As reports suggest Dharmendra passed away due to respiratory issues, it is important to understand why such illnesses are harder to manage in older adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, respiratory ailments are challenging to treat in the elderly because of a mix of physical changes in the lungs and chest wall, a weakened immune system, multiple pre-existing health conditions, and difficulties in diagnosis and treatment delivery.

Decreased Lung Elasticity and Function: With age, the lungs lose flexibility and the chest wall stiffens, making breathing harder and reducing total lung capacity. This limits the oxygen entering the bloodstream and slows the removal of carbon dioxide.

Weakened Respiratory Muscles: Muscles like the diaphragm and intercostals lose strength, reducing the ability to take deep breaths or cough effectively. This allows mucus and germs to accumulate in the lungs, raising the risk of infections such as pneumonia.

Impaired Gas Exchange: Tiny air sacs (alveoli) lose their shape and efficiency, decreasing the surface area for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.

Diminished Protective Reflexes: Nerve sensitivity in the airways declines, weakening the cough reflex and making it harder to clear germs and particles from the lungs.

Moreover, as Dharmendra had been on a ventilator, studies published in BMC Geriatrics and the JAMA Network show that elderly patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation face significantly higher mortality rates, nearly 90% for those aged 80 and above. Experts explain that age-related frailty, existing health conditions, and the invasive nature of ventilation all reduce chances of recovery.

Older age, pre-existing illnesses, and the need for ventilator support together contribute to poor outcomes. Simply put, the combination of advanced age and ventilator use is strongly linked to lower survival chances. This highlights the importance of raising awareness about liver and respiratory conditions, particularly in older adults, to ensure timely treatment and improved health outcomes.

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Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra passed away on Monday morning in Mumbai at the age of 89, police sources at the cremation ground confirmed. The actor, who had featured in over 300 films across a remarkable career, had been unwell for about a month. His final rites were performed at the Pawan Hans crematorium. Dharmendra was just weeks away from his 90th birthday on December 8. He had been hospitalised in October for breathlessness, placed on ventilator support, and discharged on November 12. He passed away at his home in Mumbai on November 24, 2025.Dharmendra Passes Away At 89Legendary actor Dharmendra has passed away at 89. Fondly remembered as the 'He-Man' of Indian cinema, he leaves behind a career spanning over six decades and more than 300 films. The country mourns an icon who shaped an era of Hindi cinema. While the official cause of death has not been formally announced, sources close to the family indicate that his passing was linked to long-standing age-related health issues. In the past weeks, Dharmendra had been hospitalised multiple times for respiratory problems, including a stay at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital in early November.Reports suggest he was on ventilator support for some time and later discharged to continue treatment at home. Age-related complications, including breathing difficulties, appear to have played a role in his declining health.Why Respiratory Ailments Are Tougher To Treat In The Elderly?As reports suggest Dharmendra passed away due to respiratory issues, it is important to understand why such illnesses are harder to manage in older adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, respiratory ailments are challenging to treat in the elderly because of a mix of physical changes in the lungs and chest wall, a weakened immune system, multiple pre-existing health conditions, and difficulties in diagnosis and treatment delivery.Decreased Lung Elasticity and Function: With age, the lungs lose flexibility and the chest wall stiffens, making breathing harder and reducing total lung capacity. This limits the oxygen entering the bloodstream and slows the removal of carbon dioxide.Weakened Respiratory Muscles: Muscles like the diaphragm and intercostals lose strength, reducing the ability to take deep breaths or cough effectively. This allows mucus and germs to accumulate in the lungs, raising the risk of infections such as pneumonia.Impaired Gas Exchange: Tiny air sacs (alveoli) lose their shape and efficiency, decreasing the surface area for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.Diminished Protective Reflexes: Nerve sensitivity in the airways declines, weakening the cough reflex and making it harder to clear germs and particles from the lungs.Moreover, as Dharmendra had been on a ventilator, studies published in BMC Geriatrics and the JAMA Network show that elderly patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation face significantly higher mortality rates, nearly 90% for those aged 80 and above. Experts explain that age-related frailty, existing health conditions, and the invasive nature of ventilation all reduce chances of recovery.Older age, pre-existing illnesses, and the need for ventilator support together contribute to poor outcomes. Simply put, the combination of advanced age and ventilator use is strongly linked to lower survival chances. This highlights the importance of raising awareness about liver and respiratory conditions, particularly in older adults, to ensure timely treatment and improved health outcomes.