Natalie Cole's family has disclosed the cause of her death last Dec. 31.
In an official statement, the family said that Cole's cause of death was heart failure stemming from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cole was stricken with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in 2009 shortly after she received a kidney transplant.
The family said that Cole responded well to related treatments over the course of many years, during which she performed in concerts worldwide.
"[B]ut [she] eventually succumbed to intractable right heart failure, an outcome that unfortunately commonly occurs in this progressive disorder," the statement read.
The renowned R&B and jazz star succumbed to the condition New Year's Eve at a Los Angeles hospital at the age of 65.
Pulmonary Hypertension
A rare lung condition PAH causes dizziness, shortness of breath, and even chest pain. In Cole's case, the exact cause of the disease remained unknown since it was idiopathic.
This type of high blood pressure affects the arteries in the lungs as well as the right side of the heart.
The condition starts when pulmonary arteries — tiny arteries in the lungs — along with capillaries become narrowed, blocked, or destroyed, making it difficult for blood to flow through the lungs. It then raises pressure within the arteries of the respiratory organ.
As a result, the heart's right ventricle works double time to pump blood through the lungs, eventually causing weakened or failing heart muscle.
There is no cure yet for this disease, which could progressively worsen and even cause death.
Drug Battle, Health Woes
The daughter of legendary singer Nat King Cole made her own mark in the industry, winning nine Grammys and releasing platinum records that include "Unforgettable... with Love" in 1991.
But Cole openly went through the many ups and downs of her life - from chart-topping success to decades-long drug addiction.
"People often ask me why I got into drugs. I think they were just waiting to happen, a culmination of not having resolved things," Cole wrote in her memoir, citing her father's death as the beginning of her drug battle.
She revealed to have routinely snorted heroin while her career took off. The singer landed a contract with Capitol Records in 1975; her later decades were then marked by the use of cocaine and other substances, as well as stints in rehab.
"This Will Be," her first chart-topper, won her two Grammys. Her "Unforgettable" album, featuring her virtual duet with her dad, also won her six Grammys, including Record of the Year. Her duet with her father, "When I Fall in Love," was also a Grammy winner back in 1997.
Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2008, which left her weak from chemotherapy and serious kidney conditions entailing dialysis three times a week. She had a kidney transplant in 2009.
Shortly after her death, her siblings and son, Robert Yancy, announced in their statement that she had fought "a fierce, courageous battle."
"Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and will remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever," the statement reads.
