Brittany Murphy Death: What Causes Cardiac Arrest in Young People

Although there is still a lot of speculation about how Brittany Murphy died, it has been alleged that the 32-year-old Hollywood actress might have died yesterday from a cardiac arrest. Despite rumors that Murphy might have been quite sick just before her death, many are still wondering what exactly could have caused a person as young as Murphy to suffer a heart attack. It was alleged that Murphy might have been suffering from anorexia throughout her life. It was also reported that she might have had flu symptoms just before her death. But, could any of these conditions have caused Murphy to suffer from a cardiac arrest?

First and foremost, what is the definition of a cardiac arrest? A cardiac arrest is a heart condition in which normal circulation of blood is interrupted due to failure of the heart to contract effectively. It results in sudden loss of heart function that can lead to death within minutes. Interrupted blood flow leads to compromised oxygen delivery to vital organs, which in turn leads to a loss of consciousness and eventually interrupted breathing.

Cardiac arrests are not normally associated with young people. But, since 90's the incidence of sudden death from cardiac arrest in young people (under the age of 35) increased alarmingly as the Center For Disease Control reports. The incidence of cardiac arrest in young men increased by 10%, and in young women by 32% in the last decade. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 325,000 deaths each year.

All of the causes listed below have only been alleged as possible reasons that could have lead Murphy to suffer from cardiac arrest, and are only conceptually examined for the possibility of having had caused the cardiac arrest.

--Anorexia: concerns were raised over actress's fluctuating weight in recent years, but Murphy herself denied all allegations. Limited or selective food intake can lead to electrolyte imbalance. If a young person whose metabolic activity is still very strong does not ingest certain minerals and nutrients critical for the maintenance of normal body function, it can lead to eventual metabolic slow down and grave health conditions. Dehydration caused by lack of fluid intake or restricted carbohydrate intake is another very important factor that can contribute to heart failure. Weight loss drugs, if they were ever taken, could also add an extra stress on the cardiac system. But, anorexia is usually a slow killer. Whether it would cause a sudden cardiac arrest in an otherwise healthy person is questionable.

--Drug use: hard drugs or prescription drugs; an overdose can definitiely cause one's cardiac and renal systems to be overwhelmed. Murphy always denied taking illegal drugs. But, by her own admission, she could not tolerate any drugs very well. She once said she could not even take a cold prescription like Sudafed because "it would make [her] heart explode." But, it was reported by TMZ that a lot of prescription drugs were found in her home after her death -- prescribed not just to her, but also her Mom and husband. But, the rumors of drugs abuse leading to cardiac arrest are fueled by the fact that music star Michael Jackson died this summer from a cardiac arrest that was later proved by coroner to have been caused by the overuse of prescription drugs, some of which were not supposed to have been administered at home. Jackson's treating doctor is currently under investigation.

--Flu symptoms: interestingly, it became known that Murphy might have been suffering from flu just before her death. She was reportedly feeling very ill early on the day of her death on Sunday, suffering from massive vomiting. It is possible for the flu virus to cause so much inflammation in the body that the sick individual's own immune response overwhelms body systems causing them to collapse. But, if that was the case, the symptoms are usually so obvious and serious that the question arises -- why was not Murphy hospitalized earlier? Another possibility is that Murphy might have overdosed on flu remedies, some of which are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can do a lot of damage if taken in wrong proportion.

--Plastic surgery: rumors were flying around for years alleging Murphy might have had plastic surgery, something Murphy herself denied too. Surgery is serious procedure and powerful painkillers are often prescribed, which can lead to addiction. Whether the plastic surgery itself could have led to a sudden cardiac arrest, that is questionable. Surgeries can lead to heart attacks but the highest probability would be right after the surgery when the patient is still recovering from surgical intervention and is placed under heavy duty medications.

--Diabetes Type 2/ Thyroid condition: can contribute to cardiac arrest. Diabetes does affect the conditions that the blood vessels are in, which might affect blood flow and stress levels on the heart. Diabetes Type 2 can lead to disrupted metabolism and weight gain, which add another risk factor for heart attacks. If Type 2 Diabetes is left unmanaged, it can lead to severe complications, including renal failure, blindness, arterial disease, including coronary artery disease.

--Genetic/ No Apparent Cause: these two factors have not received much coverage in the news, but it is important to consider that cardiac arrest can be caused by genetic factors. There is no information regarding the history of heart disease in Murphy's family, but a predisposition to heart conditions that runs through the family could also play a role. The American Heart Foundation does note that cardiac arrests can also occur without any known cause.

So far, cardiac arrest is only a suspicion, although the chief coroner did say that the death appears to be natural. Autopsy is yet to be performed, although it was reported that Murphy's husband Simon Monjack did not want autopsy. But, any combination of the factors listed above could have led to Brittany Murphy's death.