Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Two-year-old Elvis with his parents Vernon and Gladys Presley in 1937 in Tupelo, Mississippi. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. But who knows? This manifested most egregiously in March 1977 during two stops in Louisiana. Interestingly, the pathologists tested him for immune deficiencies, and found Elvis had hypogammaglobulinemia, a disorder of the body's immune system, as indicated by decreased levels of immunoglobulin A (I g A) and I g G. Rosette formation studies revealed decreased numbers of T cells and B cells (lymphocytes). And driven to continue performing by Colonel Parker and others. EDS is a genetic connective tissue collagen disorder, and what that means is that you are genetically predetermined to have your collagen in certain tissues either disappear or deteriorate or become defective, and to put it bluntly, you can have a rectal problem and an eye problem at the same time due to the same cause because your collagen is deteriorating in these tissues, Tennant told my colleague Donna Gregory Burch in a 2021 interview. But the extent of his health problems were not truly understood until after he had passed away. She credits this topublic figureslike Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish and Michael Phelps, who usetheir platforms toshare theirstruggles and help reducemental health stigma. And rather than being shownempathy, he was mocked by the country that lifted him onto the pedestal. All rights reserved. "Its hard for us to imagine [that he was in physical pain] because he once appeared so perfect on the outside that he couldn't have been flawed on the inside," author Sally A. Hoedel told Fox News Digital. Ed Sheerans wife diagnosed with tumor during pregnancy: Spiraling through depression, Prince Harry describes the rest of his life in five words amid 'Spare' fallout: 'Freedom', Chris Rock plans to address Will Smith Oscar slap in live Netflix special, Prince Harry apology 'demands' from King Charles, Prince William before coronation are 'delusional': experts, Brendan Fraser recalls near-death experience filming 'The Mummy' scene: 'I was choked out', Morgan Evans' dad recalls 'everything' being 'destroyed' in singer's life after Kelsea Ballerini divorce. He didn't "jiggle" nearly as much as most do, nor did his legs or arms look especially fat. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/elvis-addiction-was-the-perfect-prescription-for-an-early-death. According to Elvis' longtime friend and hairdresser Larry Geller, the star was ready to turn his life around in the months leading up to his passing at age 42 in August 1977. Few if any figures in rock and roll history are as timeless or controversial as Elvis Presley. He was depressed about aging and not having a woman he loved. EDS is what connects all of those health problems, correct? You can unsubscribe at any time. The other two pathologists Muirhead and Florredo eventually revealed they also had found evidence of severe and chronic constipation, diabetes, and glaucoma during their examination. It never came to fruition. They were all connected. I saw vulnerability. They show a tired and very sick man, aged beyond his years and sweating profusely. The singer was also on a cocktail of drugs and had been prescribed almost 9,000 pills, vials and injections in the seven months before his death. And in 2016 Garry Rodgers, a retired homicide detective and forensic coroner, told the Huffington Post that with those findings in mind, he would have attributed Elvis' death to a heart attack caused by heart disease and drug use caused by an autoimmune disease which was sparked by a brain injury. Please check your inbox to confirm. Elvis Presley performs in concert during his 'Aloha From Hawaii' 1972 television special. The pressure to perform, the loss of privacy and the incessant public scrutinycan also cause anxiety and depression leaving some to cope with medications, alcohol or other substances to reduce stress. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. FORMER WIFE PRISCILLA WEIGHS IN, Vernon Presley and Elvis Presley on stage during a concert recorded on June 19, 1977, in Omaha, Nebraska. (Getty), LISA MARIE PRESLEY'S SON, BENJAMIN KEOUGH, DEAD AT 27, He was very, very happy with Linda, said Kirk, adding Thompson was an intelligent stunning lady., But the romance was not meant to be. But with his life ended, those who loved him could now remember the man he'd once been, revolutionizing rock music with his energy, charisma, and raw talent. By examining his flaws and health issues, maybe we can start to see his humanity again.. Conditions such as post-concussion syndrome can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches and difficulty concentrating. Therefore, you should be happy. He had this terrible heart, so he died suddenly, within seconds, as he was trying to sit on the commode., Fortunately, the Elvis movie spares us any final scenes like that ending instead with actual clips from one of Presleys last concerts. Elvis Presley, who died 44 years ago this month, was not a drug abuser in the typical rocknroll lifestyle sense, a new book claims, but he was medicating to address a series of congenital illnesses. Elvis Presley died in 1977 aged just 42 and it's long been believed that an unhealthy lifestyle and drug abuse were key factors, but a new book instead points the finger at genetics. He bought strangers new cars just to see their reactions. ", "In the end, somebody who has a mental health issue, who is a celebrity, will often have a more difficult time because to really successfully recover from a mental health problem or addiction,you actually need a great deal of humility. On the day that Presley died, the Colonel was already planning the start of his next tour. Even his maids were like family and he bought them all new cars. That always stayed with him. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. As early as 1973, the year he divorced his first wife Priscilla, his health was already failing. According to LiveAbout.com, Elvis became dependent on several different types of prescription drugs, specifically amphetamines to keep him awake and barbiturates to help him sleep or relax. The critics noted his weight gain when reviewing his public appearances. The music icon passed away nearly 43 years ago, on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42 from a heart attack, which doctors said was likely brought on by his addiction to prescription barbiturates. He also worked really hard to hide it. He paid strangers hospital bills if he heard they were poor. He was a very spiritual person, she explained. He began treating the King for saddle pain in 1967 and all too soon Elvis turned into an opiate addict. "Theres no specific negligence on anyones part and definitely no cover-up or conspiracy of a criminal act. … We really aren't happy for them, because we want that life, too, and we can't get it," Rockwell says. The book, according to an excerpt in Salon, said it later was "established in court that during the seven and a half months preceding Elviss death, from January 1, 1977, to August 16, 1977, Dr. Nichopoulos had written prescriptions for him for at least 8,805 pills, tablets, vials, and injectables. Elvis Presley died at 42 years oldon Aug. 16, 1977, in Memphis, Tennessee. He had all these metabolic defects due to his genetics, and so the codeine built up in his system. (Getty Images). ", Celeb obsessed? Whats Missing in Elvis Movie: The Kings Chronic Illness, The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. He was only 42 years old and a bloated, fading version of the once-beautiful man whose rhythmic hip-swaying earned him the nickname Elvis the Pelvis. His girlfriend, Ginger Alden, found him unconscious, lying face down in the master suite bathroom on the second floor of his Memphis mansion, Graceland. Dr. Nick admitted at a hearing before the Tennessee Board of Health that he had prescribed thousands of doses of various addictive pills for Elvis but also claimed he often slipped him sugar pills, or placebos, to try to control his addictions. A man holds newspaper announcing his death. Now The King's cousin has shared specific . He would have pulled up his pajama bottoms and crawled to the door to seek help. Market data provided by Factset. While the world at large saw Elvis as the man who had it all, Letitia known to those around Elvis as "Tish" had a private window into his personal struggles. Atherosclerosis is a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. ", Interview: Carson Daly says he's suffered from anxiety, panic attacks on 'The Voice', TV: Lessons for all of us in 'The Kardashians' finale. The truth is more complex. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. While Elvis did suffer from a pill addiction, as the Austin Butler Elvis movie ending explained, he had chronic pain and health problems that may have fueled it. In addition to the head and heart problems, author Sally A Hoedel - lifelong Elvis fan, historian and journalism graduate - delved into his family history discovering more about his health. By 1976, Elvis had become disenfranchised and unhinged, his drug use, bad health, and financial excess chipping away at his composure. Elvis' health problems had started long before that August day in 1977. says Rockwell, adding that "alot is given away when an artist becomes famous that they are ill-prepared for.". ", Elvis Presley with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii. One of the reasons Elvis turned to the medication was pain. "In the last few years of his life, he was very aware of how ill he was," she said. ", Harry, Meghan, The Rock, Naomi Osaka: Why celebrity mental health struggles matter. More: Austin Butler's 'Elvis' acting lessons began when Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to his door. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. '", But in the case of Elvis, Manly notes, it would have been "muchmore difficultthan your average Joe, who isn't worried about how people will be looking at him. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. What were Elvis Presley's health issues that plagued him during his short life? Dr. Howard Markel In December 1976, after a brief courtship, the singer gave her a $70,000 engagement ring an expenditure that many thought was more for show than actual sentiment. As someone who loves this struggling individual, the young woman started to become concerned with her lover's health as it rapidly declined. His untimely death was mourned by fans as many made their way to Graceland, his mansion in Memphis, to pay respects. Legal Statement. "You always think there was something you could have done, that he might still be alive today. Elvis Presley is seen performing on June 20, 1977. He was found there by Ginger Alden around 2 p.m. on August 16. Examining them, she believes, is a way to humanise the mythical figure of Presley, who in later life was known for his corpulence and indulgent appetite. But he still sang like The King.. All Rights Reserved. Elvis was a very kind hearted person. Dr. Others claimed he'd died from a drug overdose, but when the investigation was reopened in 1994, coroner Joseph Davis disagreed. Given his pill dependency and excessive weight, some might assume that Elvis spent the day before his death lying in bed eating or doing drugs. However, as Presleys body was slowing down, Hoedel said his determination to hit the road endured. Elvis actually died a death that is quite common, albeit an embarrassing one. But for Tennant, that wasn't enough to explain the long list of maladies that afflicted the rock star from the late 1960s onwards. As recorded in Rolling Stone, the three bodyguards co-wrote a tell-all biography of Elvis that was released only days before his death. And with his gruelingrecording and concert schedules, many speculated that he was strugglingwith isolation in Graceland as well as the pressures to excelafter his hiatus inthe Army and the booming popularity of The Beatles. Most worrisome to his record label, RCA, was that the King had become entirely uninterested in going into the studio and recording. Opening up about the tragic loss of his pal, the medical professional released a tell-all book; "The King and Dr. Nick" about his time with Elvis. "made with a jars worth of blueberry jam, a jars worth of peanut butter and an entire pound of bacon,", born inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935, he placed fifth inthe 1945 Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show for a solo performance without musical accompaniment, How 'Elvis' highlights his complicated history with Black music, 45 Elvis events in the 45 years since the death of the King, We're here to help with life's everyday questions, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. And he does that in the last several years of his life. They would try and no way.". Home Health News Elvis Presley health: The star was destined to die young full list of his health issues, We use your sign-up to provide content in ways youve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. "I realized this man was as iconic as they come, and yet he of course was a human being, sensitive and vulnerable, with virtues and flaws, and I got to experience all of that, Butler said in a USA TODAY interview. "He believed he could conquer all his problems himself. In turn, many in Elvis' entourage believed Ginger to be nothing more than a gold-digger. The Presley family in general did not have a good track record for health. The King was just 43 when he was found face down on the floor of the bathroom at his Graceland home, appearing to have fallen off the toilet. The King of Rock 'n'Rollshocked prudish 1950s America with his hip swiveling and unprecedented charmandwas treated as an icon untilhistragic final years. He wanted a companion, but it was difficult for someone of his stature.. Presley, as depicted by actor Austin Butler, collapses in a hallway minutes before being scheduled to take the stage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Elvis Presley during a performance at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA. (CBS via Getty Images). "A few speculated and began telling untruths regarding Elvis and me which were completely unwarranted, mean spirited and wrong.". As soon as we begin to objectify real people, "we completely remove the individual's personality, their true selves. The singer, who made teenage girls hysterical with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating pelvis during the 50s, was suffering from declining health in the 70s. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty), SEAN ASTIN SAYS LATE MOTHER PATTY DUKES MENTAL ILLNESS LED HIM TO OFFER SUPPORT TO OTHER PEOPLE, Kirk claimed she tried to improve Presleys diet, but it didnt stick. One of these problems was Elvis megacolon. Dr. George Nichopoulos, aka "Dr. Nick," traveled with Elvis, and carried three suitcases of pills to make sure he could fulfill any of Elvis' needs. By the mid-70s, Presley was in declining physical and mental health, history.com reported. To this day, conflicting speculationssurroundElvis' death. It's more difficult to project onto that person that idealof perfection.". From my research, he was always trying to help Elvis but the line between friend and doctor got blurred, Hoedel says. Three of his uncles died of heart, kidney and liver issues in their 40a and early 50s. They finally had to give him medication just so he could sleep. He needed a full-time nurse and apparently refused to bathe throughout 1975, causing him to develop sores on his body. The autopsy results are due to be unlocked in 2027, but until then, the biggest insight into the star's mysterious death has come from prominent California physician, Forest Tennant, who actually reviewed the report while defending Elvis' doctor, Dr. George Nichopoulos, who was later acquitted of over-prescribing drugs. Elvis was sitting on the toilet, straining very hard to have a bowel movement a maneuver that put a great amount of pressure on his heart and aorta. But now, "Elvis" (in theaters) strives to humanize the legendary singer beyond his musical abilities. He was disabled, says Dr. Forest Tennant, a retired physician and pain management expert who is one of the last people alive to be intimately familiar with Elvis drug use and medical problems. All rights reserved. Throughout Elvis' career, he was surrounded by a crew of friends, hangers-on, and enablers that were casually dubbed the "Memphis Mafia." But was the King simply ignoring his well-being, or was he having suicidal thoughts? Kirk said Presley attempted to find solace in reading the Bible, but the loneliness didnt leave him. His friends kept pimping him with pretty 17- and 18-year-old girls but he had nothing in common with them. In the end, he died a lonely man whose ornate home became the embodiment of Heartbreak Hotel., Left: The singer, who made teenage girls hysterical with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating. Why would you want to go out and have people staring at you and judging youall the time?" Elvis shifted our universe culturally like no one has before and he deserves to be treated like an historical figure, like Henry Ford or Thomas Edison, but instead he gets weighed down by sensationalism, and that keep us from the truth, she says. According to the outlet, Thomas left Presley a year before his death because, she said, it was exhausting watching him slowly self-destruct.. In November 1976, Elvis split with his girlfriend of four years Linda Thompson, according to The Wrap. (Red had known the singer since the '50s.) (Reuters), '70S ROCK PIONEER SUZI QUATRO SAYS SHE WAS NEVER TEMPTED BY FAME: 'YOU EITHER GO MAD OR WIND UP DEAD', Kirk said she kept her stories about Presley private for 38 years before she decided to revisit them in her 2015 self-published memoir Taking Care of Elvis.. During the final months of his life, Elvis Presley was said to be in a lot of physical pain. I gently raised one eyelid. Lamar Fike, a member of Elvis' "Memphis Mafia"entourage, famously said Ginger "didn't give a rat's ass about him. We don't know what their fears are, what their hopes are, what their dreams are, what their sadness is. "People become agoraphobic. Here's why. or redistributed. ", Review: Austin Butler rules as the King, butBaz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' is an unchained mess. Already planning the start of his next tour the year he divorced first. King & # x27 ; s cousin has shared specific was in declining and. Had passed away typewriter to his genetics, and so the codeine built up in his system you think... 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Want to go out and have people staring at you and judging youall the time? you always think was.