'The King of Rock 'n' Roll' Elvis Presley marks the 48th anniversary of his death. As waves of mourning continue among fans, his cause of death is being highlighted once again.
On Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley, born in the United States, was found dead in the bathroom of his home in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 42 years old. At the time, U.S. President Jimmy Carter remarked that he had 'lost a part of America,' indicating how his death shocked many and plunged them into grief.
The official cause of death was a heart attack due to arrhythmia; however, his physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos, revealed in 2010 that the actual cause was chronic constipation. During the autopsy, it was found that more than 20 kilograms of fecal matter had accumulated in his body. This is more than twice the amount of a normal adult. The difficulty in bowel movements led to weight gain and weakened organ functions, ultimately being identified as the primary reason that broke down his body.
Elvis was reported to have refused anal surgery, feeling ashamed to reveal such an embarrassing condition as a star. The pain from constipation, coupled with the painkillers and sleeping pills he took, worsened his constipation, and drug dependence put more strain on his heart and organs.
It is said that his extremely unbalanced eating habits also contributed to Elvis's unfortunate death. To him, food was not simply a meal, but also comfort and pleasure. He enjoyed high-fat, high-sugar foods and ultra-high-calorie junk foods. In 1977, his weight was revealed to be over 100 kilograms, and at one point, it approached 150 kilograms. After his divorce from his wife Priscilla in 1973, binge eating and drug dependence worsened, ultimately leading him to pass away lonely in the bathroom of his home rather than on a glamorous stage. Ultimately, it is generally believed that a combination of binge eating, irregular lifestyle, constipation, high blood pressure, and substance abuse led to his sudden death.
His death was tragic, but the musical achievements Elvis left behind continue to shine. He popularized rock 'n' roll, which was previously the territory of Black musicians, and contributed to the development of various genres such as pop, country, gospel, and rock.
Beginning with his debut single 'Heartbreak Hotel,' he left behind numerous hits such as 'Love Me Tender' and 'Can't Help Falling in Love,' and also grants in over 30 films. Notably, the 'Aloha from Hawaii' concert held in 1973 was the world's first satellite live broadcast, watched by 1.5 billion people in 40 countries.
Even after his death, he was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, recording his legacy as a monumental iKON in popular culture history. Though the end of his life was tragic, the music and cultural impact he left continue to resonate worldwide.
Meanwhile, Elvis's only daughter, singer Lisa Marie Presley, who lost her father at the age of 9, passed away from a heart attack in January 2023, joining him.
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