Elvis Presley’s death was a shock for the world. His fame was matched only by The Beatles at the time of his death.
But he was also a very controversial figure. He had a history of dating underage women and he drank and took drugs.
Drug Overdose
Elvis Presley’s death shocked the world but new research claims he didn’t die because of prescription drug abuse. Instead, his health problems from birth were to blame.
He was a carrier of alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, which can lead to liver cirrhosis, and he was also overweight, had an enlarged colon and suffered from chronic pain.
The author of a new book, Elvis: Destined To Die Young, believes the King’s heart attack was caused by these issues and not his prescription drug dependency.
However, he was still prescribed a large number of drugs by his physician George Nichopoulos (known as Dr. Nick). These drugs included narcotics, amphetamines and sedatives.
Cardiac Arrhythmia
A cardiac arrhythmia is when your heart beats in an abnormal rhythm. This can cause a range of symptoms and may lead to sudden death.
To diagnose an arrhythmia, your doctor will review your signs and symptoms, perform a physical exam and conduct tests and procedures. These include a blood test, an electrocardiogram (ECG) or a Holter monitor that records your heart’s electrical activity for 24 hours or more.
Elvis’s Death
One of the first reports on Elvis’s death suggested that he died of a cardiac arrhythmia. But later tests revealed that he had high levels of prescription drugs in his blood, including opiate painkillers.
During his life, he abused codeine, dilaudid, percodan and demerol, plus laxatives. The combination of these drugs strained his heart, which then stopped working.
Congestive Heart Failure
Despite being in the public eye, Elvis was a private man. He kept his personal health problems to himself.
Congestive heart failure, or CHF, can develop after a person has a coronary artery disease, heart attack or stroke. This causes the heart to not pump blood well enough and the lungs to fill with fluid.
Doctor’s Recommendations
It can also occur because of kidney disease, or a disorder called Kawasaki disease. Depending on your doctor’s recommendations, your treatment may include medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), beta-blockers and vasodilators.
Researchers have found that black people are more likely to suffer from this condition than other races, but the exact cause of the condition is unclear. Regardless, the key is to monitor your health and report any new symptoms or changes to your doctor.
Stroke
Elvis died on August 16, 1977 at age 42 in the bathroom of his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee. His cause of death was ruled as a heart attack.
The medical examiner found that he had a cardiac arrhythmia caused by straining while going to the bathroom. He was also suffering from a swollen colon that allowed toxins to enter his body.
Conclusion:
Medics at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, rushed to the scene and called for an ambulance. They were tasked with getting the musician to the hospital as quickly as possible.
The emergency team had eighteen doctors, nurses and medical specialists able to respond within minutes of an alert being received. They were dubbed the Harvey Team and had the training necessary to deal with life-or-death situations.
