Yoshimoto New Comedy’s Ryo Yamada Dies Suddenly, Heart Failure Risks Highlighted

“He was full of energy until just before.”

On April 8, popular Yoshimoto New Comedy performer Ryo Yamada passed away suddenly from congestive heart failure at the age of 51. Just months before his death, he had expressed his enthusiasm for performing at the Shanghai Comedy Festival in November 2024. This was a sudden and unexpected loss.

In fact, heart failure is not only a disease of the elderly. The frightening thing about it is that it can progress with almost no symptoms, and one day it may suddenly take a person’s life. Yamada’s case is not unique. In the past, other prominent figures have died suddenly from heart failure.

In 2016, comedian Ken Maeda collapsed from ischemic heart failure at the young age of 44. In 2018, actor Osugi Ren passed away suddenly after complaining of abdominal pain following a shoot. He was 66, and his cause of death was acute heart failure.

What they all had in common was that they seemed fine right up until the very end.

Dr. Yu Mashimori, a physician at Hakodate Ryoho Hospital’s General Medicine Department, explains the dangers of heart failure (the following are Dr. Mashimori’s comments).

“Heart failure is not a specific disease name. It is a general term for a condition in which the heart’s pumping function becomes weak, and it can no longer deliver enough blood to the body. When the heart’s function deteriorates, blood flow slows down, and fluids tend to accumulate in places like the lungs and legs. This is known as congestive heart failure.

When heart function starts to decline slightly, the heart tries to compensate (compensatory function), so symptoms are often not noticeable, and health checkups may show no abnormalities. This is why hidden heart failure is a common occurrence.”

Dr. Masumori emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs that appear when heart function declines.

“If you notice the following changes, don’t ignore them thinking it’s just age—it is recommended that you consult a doctor.”

– Shortness of breath when moving around
– Swollen feet or marks on the shins when you press on them
– Getting up several times during the night to go to the bathroom.
-Difficulty breathing when lying down.
-Sudden weight gain (1-2 kg)
-Somewhat dull and tired easily

“Also, chest pain, pressure, pain in the shoulder, jaw, or upper abdomen, loud snoring, or sleep apnea could be signs not only of heart failure but also of life-threatening conditions like a heart attack or angina. If you experience these, do not hesitate and seek medical attention promptly.”

How to detect hidden heart failure

Heart failure tends to progress quietly with few symptoms, making it difficult to detect. Recently, “BNP testing” has gained attention as a way to detect it.

“BNP is a substance that the heart secretes into the bloodstream when it is under strain. By measuring this value, we can determine how hard the heart is working, or its fatigue level.

The guideline is as follows: BNP levels below 50 pg/mL are in the safe zone, 50–100 pg/mL indicates caution, and levels over 100 pg/mL suggest the possibility of heart failure. If it exceeds 200 pg/mL, treatment is required. However, other conditions, such as kidney function decline, can also raise BNP levels, so additional tests like echocardiograms or electrocardiograms are necessary for a final diagnosis.”

Dr. Masumori has also examined patients with hidden heart failure.

“Mr. A, a man in his 60s, had a BNP level of 120 indicated in his health check. He was skeptical, as he had no shortness of breath or swelling, but an echocardiogram revealed early-stage heart failure (diastolic dysfunction). Thanks to early detection, he is now living a healthy life through blood pressure management and lifestyle improvements.”

Early detection and treatment of heart failure are crucial.

“The basic treatment for heart failure is treating the underlying disease and reducing the burden on the heart. For example, if hypertension is the cause, treating high blood pressure; if the heart’s arteries are narrowed (angina), treatment to widen them. Approaching the root cause is very important.”

Improving lifestyle habits is also essential.

“Excessive salt intake causes the body to retain water, which increases the burden on the heart, so limiting salt is crucial. Also, moderate exercise is important, but it should be done in consultation with a doctor to avoid overexertion.

The heart is often referred to as a silent organ, and even when it is under strain, symptoms may not appear. However, when the strain reaches its limit, it can suddenly lead to a life-threatening situation like heart failure.

That’s why it’s important not to simply assume everything is fine because I had no issues in my health check. If you recognize any of the symptoms described, or if you have lifestyle-related diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes, I recommend consulting your doctor about BNP testing.

BNP tests can be taken as an option during health checks or in a human dock. Also, if heart failure symptoms are suspected, you can use insurance to have the test at a hospital.”

Yamada, who was supposed to bring joy to many more people, may have had signs of heart failure that went unnoticed. We may never know. The only thing we can do now, in the wake of this sudden farewell, is to use this experience to better manage our own health. I sincerely pray for his soul to rest in peace.