", WOULD ELVIS PRESLEY SURVIVE CANCEL CULTURE? 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Either way, not only do BPD parents often. "People become agoraphobic. By the time hes touring again in the 70s, he was providing for more than 100 people. Like so many rock stars, including Michael Jackson and Prince, Elvis employed an all-too-willing physician to feed his addiction and hasten his death. In 2020, Glenn Danzig, heavy metal vocalist and frontman of horror-punk act The Misfits, released Danzig Sings Elvis, an album of Elvis covers. Author Sally Hoedel's Elvis: Destined to Die Young notes that Elvis 's mother's parents were first cousins, with ill-health running through that side of the family. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. And we love tocriticize the celebrity to bring them back down to our level. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Here is what you need to know about Elvis' death, declining health and other aspects of his life. While many of Elvis' loyal fans refused the buy the biography upon its initial release in May 1977 in the UK and late July in the US the King's death soon thereafter, and the revelation that many of the book's stories were painfully accurate, turned it into one of the most successful Elvis books of all time. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The King of Rock 'n' Roll shocked prudish 1950s America with his hip swiveling and unprecedented charm and was treated as an icon - until his tragic final years. In recent years, Hollywood has tried to spread awareness about thehuman aspects of celebrities. Something went wrong, please try again later. So what had caused all of these disease processes in his stomach, liver, lungs, heart, spine, eyes and bowel? Some experts agree Elvis may have been performing at a feverish pace to meet fans' demands at the expense of his well-being. He abused antihistamines, tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation. There, the body identified the matter as foreign and produced antibodies to destroy it, triggering hypogammaglobulinemia, a disorder of the body's immune system. 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. ELVIS PRESLEY was just 42-years-old when he died, having physically transformed and suffered multiple illnesses and hospitalisations in his final years. MORE: Priscilla . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The critics noted his weight gain when reviewing his public appearances. His medicine chest was filled with amber-colored, white-topped vials of medications, in doses no responsible doctor would have prescribed. "He was encouraged to cancel the tour. Presley was a long-time abuser of opiates, which not only kill pain but also cause savage constipation. For fans of rock and roll everywhere, the King's death was a monumental blow. Hodel claimed that Presley continued to use medication to not only provide him relief but also to function. The colon is the longest part of the large intestine and when blocked causes a megacolon. (Sally A. Hoedel), For "Elvis: Destined to Die Young," Hoedel said she spoke to numerous sources who knew and befriended Presley over the years, and "had the privilege to see documents that people have not seen and used those for research aspects of this book. In turn, many in Elvis' entourage believed Ginger to be nothing more than a gold-digger. In an exclusive interview with theExpress.co.ukshe continued to say that five of these diseases had been present from his birth. The tip of his tongue was clenched between his teeth and his face was blotchy. And despite having never smoked, he also suffered from emphysema. After all these years people still want to know what happened to the "King." But for Tennant, that wasn't enough to explain the long list of maladies that afflicted the rock star from the late 1960s onwards. Some of the many interesting and caloric meals heconsumed over the yearsincluded, the Fools Gold Loaf, which was "made with a jars worth of blueberry jam, a jars worth of peanut butter and an entire pound of bacon," and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. People assumed, Well, thats just an excuse to get medication. But he really was having this problem with fighting infection. 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 collector reveals why the King is more valuable 45 years after his death. Indeed, the other two pathologists later admitted that Francisco was covering up the real cause of death at the request of Elviss mortified family who were concerned about the singers reputation. Elvis was a very kind hearted person. They were all connected. Austin Butler stars as the American heartthrob through the years:as a rocking teen who eventually spirals under the crumblingpressureof success, money and power. But he still sang like The King.. As Elvis Presley embarked on a grueling tour, he was concerned about his health, Sally A. Hoedel claimed. Elvis Presley holds court at a press conference to publicize his show at Madison Square Garden later that night while Colonel Tom Parker looks on at the Hilton Hotel on June 9, 1972, in New York City. I turned him over and I knew. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Thank you. "In the last few years of his life, he was very aware of how ill he was," she said. In his opinion, as shared in a 2013 medical paper, when Elvis tripped over a television cord and knocked himself out on the bathtub, the injury was so severe that it caused brain tissue to dislodge and seep into his blood circulation. He was only honest with a few people about it. Movies like "Elvis" portraythe star beyond his music to showcase his flaws, dreams and humanity. The knowledge and experience Tennant gained in the last 50 years led to his recent book, appropriately titled The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. ", PAT BOONE RECALLS MEETING PAL ELVIS PRESLEY: 'HE WAS JUST A SCARED YOUNG KID' "Everything with Elvis has to be looked at through a historical lens," Hoedel continued. Similar to many who found fame in the 60s and 70s, Elvis developed a drug addiction. The grave of singer Elvis Presley in Graceland. Presley knew there was something wrong with him. A diagnostic screening tool for EDS didnt exist when Elvis was alive and few physicians were even aware of the condition. And yet, when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, he had become something entirely different from his former self. Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images. We don't know what their fears are, what their hopes are, what their dreams are, what their sadness is. One of these problems was Elvis megacolon. I have to make payroll, you know? He had such an obligation as a provider. Numerous documentaries have exposed. According to Elvis: Destined to Die Young, the singers downward spiral, punctuated by health problems routinely written off as the consequences of addiction, could have been caused by Presleys maternal grandparents, who were first cousins. He spent most of his time holed up in the elaborate den nicknamed the "Jungle Room" for its exotic decor of his Memphis compound Graceland. Conditions such as post-concussion syndrome can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches and difficulty concentrating. That same year, Presley became involved with 1972s Miss Tennessee Linda Thompson. But who knows? Aside from"Elvis," newretellings like Netflix's "Blonde," starring Ana de Armas,"explore the widening split between (Marilyn Monroe)'s public and private selves.". 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. "We tended to treat Elvis as someone who was supposed to be a very wonderful icon of American rock and roll. Preliminary autopsy findings determined Presley's death was the result of a "cardiac arrhythmia" and that drugs were not involved,saidPBS. In 1980, the not-so-good doctor was indicted again for overprescribing to Presley as well as Jerry Lee Lewis, but was acquitted again. Like many stars who became hugely famous before the concept of celebrity handlers had been formalized, Elvis was surrounded by yes-men and sycophants. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Elvis Presley in concert circa 1977. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. At 8:00 pm, Dr. Francisco, who only witnessed the autopsy, acted without the consent or agreement of the other two pathologists in announcing to the press that preliminary autopsy findings indicated that Elviss death was due to a cardiac arrhythmia and that drugs were not involved. Elvis Presley health: The star was destined to die young full list of his health issues. One of the reasons Elvis turned to the medication was pain. His eye was staring straight ahead and blood red.". Kirk shared that despite Presley's fame and fortune, he was often lonely. Elvis Presley performing in Burbank, California, June 1968. However, the home recording sessions of 1976 were fruitful, and seemed to inspire a burst of creativity in the King. Elvis. But he was found to have a wide variety of drugs in his system including amphetamines, barbiturates, and opiates. They have families to look after. Throw in the obesity Elvis suffered from near the end of his life, what appears to be type II diabetes, an enlarged heart, and a steady diet of unhealthy, fatty and fried foods, along with his notorious prescription pill consumption, and you have the perfect prescription for disaster. We just see whatever we want," Manly says. At the time, little was understood about auto-immune conditions, but these days they are known to cause most of the symptoms Elvis displayed, from chronic pain, irrational behaviour, obesity and enlarged and diseased organs like hearts and bowels. Here's why. Elvis' health problems had started long before that August day in 1977. He was last seen alive going into the bathroom to read. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for July 13, 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. Her new book, which comes out on Sept. 15, is titled "Destined to Fly: The Story of Pilot Ron Strauss From Iowa to Elvis," which tells the little-known tale of Presleys pilot. (The doctor said they were for Presley's entourage as well.) All rights reserved. Once he strayed from his picture-perfect, seductiveimage, someridiculed and discardedhim. If he didn't prescribe the pills to Elvis, someone else would, and at least this way he wouldn't get them off the street. Early on, these were heavily pushed by his manager, the infamous "Colonel" Tom Parker, who many believe swindled the naive young Elvis while running him ragged. They don't want to go out. Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit online news service for information and commentary about chronic pain and pain management. Elvis' last live gig was on June 26, 1977, at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis to a crowd of 18,000 fans, according to LiveAbout. But in 1976, all three were fired to "cut back on expenses." Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. Popping pills. During the final months of his life, Elvis Presley was said to be in a lot of physical pain. The last few years of his life, he had become something entirely different from his self. To many who found fame in the top right, having physically and... 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