Elvis Presley died on August 16,1977. He was extremely overweight when he died.

Question

Elvis Presley died on August 16,1977. He was extremely overweight when he died. He had a history of ingesting fatty foods including fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. He also had a long list of prescription medications he was taking, some of which had cardiovascular or neurological effects. He died on the toilet while trying to defecate. The autopsy on Elvis Presley revealed that his rectum and colon were severely impacted with fecal material, but the cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmia. Which cranial nerve serves both the rectum and the heart? How could the normal function of that nerve have contributed to his death?

Explanation / Answer

Ans-) Elvis Presley who died on august 16,1977 because of Cardiac arrhythmia, was a result of impacted fecal material in rectum and colon. Being indulged in fatty fried food and junk food for long time the digestive system got upset and weakened. Excessive fried and junk food with being overweight leads a person to CONSTIPATION(Primary cause of Fecal Impaction), hence difficulty passing stool . Medications taken by Elvis for cardiovascular and neurological effects could also be aggravating factors for constipation and ultimately impaction of fecal material. So many factors contributed to the death condition of Elvis. Severe fecal impaction leads to accumulation of solid stool in rectum colon and large intestine making bowel movements impossible, leading to bloating, pain , nausea, vomiting.

Autpsy of Elvis revealed death cause as cardiac arrhtymia, which could be result of fecal impaction, As both rectum and heart are served by same cranial nerve. Yes, Xth caranial nerve VAGUS NERVE serves both of them.It is the longest nerve of the Autonomic nervous system in human body. So, stimulation of vagus nerve that must have caused by the fecal impaction in Elvis resulted in cardiac arrhythmia due to rapid heart beat, backflow of stucked solid stool raised pressure upon the arteries causing bleeding.

Bradycardia pulseless electrical activity is the result of profused pressure while trying to defecate during impaction. perforation of bowel with spillage of stool in abdominal cavity results into severe infection peritonitis resulting death. Imopaction can cause pressure in back , and lead to stuck in movement od diaphragm rsulting difficulty breathing leading to left ventricular dysfunction and oxygen deprevation, these follows rapid heart rate chest pain and if left untreated cause death. So, there are many reasons resulting to death due to fecal impaction in a patient suffering. Proper diet , water intake , exercise and regular bowel movement can help anyone prevent from bowel obstructions and ultimately impaction.

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