Bernie Mac, whose real name was Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, passed away on August 9, 2008, due to pneumonia-related complications. He was young for his age, only 50.
We lost Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, better known by his stage name #BernieMac, on this day in 2008. pic.twitter.com/WWBx0hU4mA
— TV One (@tvonetv) August 9, 2020
However, it would be misleading to attribute Bernie Mac’s death simply to pneumonia. Even though his sarcoidosis, a chronic inflammatory lung condition, was in remission, it had impaired McCullough’s immune system for decades.
Bernie Mac spent his last days in the ICU, fighting for his life while attached to a ventilator. The Ocean’s Eleven actor fought for over two weeks before succumbing to his illness, surrounded by his loved ones.
Bernie Mac was a well-known comedian and actor who also cherished his family life. He left behind a legacy of genuine comedy that few of his contemporaries could match.
What follows is a complete biography of the late comedian.
Bernie Mac Cause Of Death Battle With Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis, which is also linked to the death of football Hall of Famer Reggie White in 2004, was diagnosed with Bernie Mac in 1983, just as his career was taking off. Although Mac’s death certificate lists pneumonia as the cause of death, sarcoidosis could have been a contributing factor.
What, though, is sarcoidosis, exactly? Shortness of breath and dry cough are common symptoms of the disease, caused by inflammation in the lungs, which limits lung capacity.
When comedian Bernie Mac died on August 9, 2008, of sarcoidosis, Black America lost someone who redefined what it meant to play a father on television. https://t.co/24INqrghCF
— Shadow and Act (@shadowandact) August 10, 2022
The condition affects almost a million people around the world, yet it manifests itself differently in people of different cultures. For instance, in eighty to ninety per cent of cases, Caucasians who contract sarcoidosis will completely recover without any therapy at all. However, the condition is often much more severe in African Americans, necessitating longer courses of treatment and often more hospital stays.
In addition, doctors know very little about what triggers this inflammation, other than the fact that it manifests primarily in the lungs. Sarcoidosis, however, is not limited to just the lungs; it can spread to the skin, eyes, heart, brain, and even bones.
Shortness of breath during vigorous exercise is a common symptom of sarcoidosis, but the disease can progress to make even little exertion such as walking a few blocks or doing chores difficult.
Sarcoidosis of the skin causes skin sores that can’t be healed. Vision loss and even blindness are possible complications of sarcoidosis of the eye. Liver sarcoidosis is characterized by abnormal liver function. Lung function is typically compromised, though other organs may be damaged as well depending on the specific condition.
This was the case with Bernie Mac; the late comedian spent a quarter of his life (25 years) dealing with the aftereffects of sarcoidosis in his lungs. The long-term damage to his lungs may have been a major factor in how the pneumonia affected him, even though the disease went into remission in 2005.
Checkthreetimes’ Tweet About Remembering The Comedy Legend Bernie Mac:
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Today marks the 15th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest comedians of all time, Bernie Mac. He was a legend in the comedy world, who left behind… pic.twitter.com/HVrqrSq9J4
— (@checkthreetimes) August 9, 2023
Sarcoidosis: What is it?
A lung illness characterized by inflammation. It is unclear what triggers this inflammation, but the lungs are typically hit first. Although sarcoidosis most commonly affects the lungs, it can also manifest in the skin, eyes, heart, brain, and bones.
Most people with sarcoidosis see a doctor after experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath or a dry cough, or after having an abnormal chest X-ray taken for other reasons. Sarcoidosis causes a very common anomaly, which is an increase in gland size and scar tissue in the lungs.
What Signs Should Be Expected When The Condition Worsens?
At first, it could be anything as simple as feeling out of breath during a vigorous activity like tennis. However, in the future, you may experience difficulty breathing after walking only a short distance. Then later, you might have trouble breathing even while completing simple tasks around the house.
The same holds true for the cough, provided it isn’t too severe. This then is evidence of pulmonary illness. Skin sarcoidosis is characterized by the appearance of lesions… They persist, and there’s a chance they’ll get worse over time. Vision loss, redness, and pain in the eyes are all symptoms of sarcoidosis of the eye.
Without treatment, complications including blindness or glaucoma are possible. Liver dysfunction may occur if sarcoidosis has an effect on the organ. Therefore, the disease’s manifestations vary depending on the affected organ. However, the vast majority of them suffer from lung illness.
Was Bernie Mac’s Death Due To Sarcoidosis?
Bernie Mac had severe sarcoidosis. His lung condition has spread to his skin as well. Then he got pneumonia and had to be sent to a hospital in Chicago. I believe that the medication he was taking had stabilized his sarcoidosis, allowing him to return to work.
Therefore, I do not think it was causing too many issues. It’s possible that the medicine he was receiving lowered his immunity, leaving him vulnerable to the infections that eventually led to his death from pneumonia. Since I’m in Los Angeles and he was in Chicago, I have no idea.
For those wanting to read more about the causes of death, you can access additional articles via the link below:
- Tyler Skaggs Cause Of Death: What The Trial Revealed Opioid Epidemic??
- Glen Campbell Cause Of Death: A Country Music Icon’s Brave Journey with Alzheimer!!
What Are The Treatments For Sarcoidosis?
There is currently no cure for sarcoidosis because its root cause remains unknown. For example, tuberculosis has a therapy because its bacterial source has been identified and several medications exist to eradicate that bacterium.
Steroids and corticosteroids like prednisone are the standard treatment for sarcoidosis. Immunosuppressant medications are also given to some patients. They are all used for the same purpose, which is to reduce inflammation. They slow the progression of granulomas into scar tissue by inhibiting their development. The treatment does not work for all of the patients.
In some cases, even after twenty or thirty years of treatment with prednisone and other steroids, the patient’s illness continues to be chronic but manageable. When treatment is discontinued, symptoms reappear. This is more common in people of African descent, and its severity can range from mild to fatal, depending on their genetic makeup.
How Does Inflammation Manifest Itself At The Site Of Sarcoidosis? Which Cells Are Involved, If Any?
A biopsy of the swollen glands in the lungs is performed. Granulomas, clusters of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, giant cells, and macrophages, can be seen within these glands.
They’ve presumably been lured there to eliminate whatever it is that drew them there. Since we can’t pinpoint what it is that triggers sarcoidosis, we can’t treat it.
