Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42, found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his Graceland home by his girlfriend Ginger Alden. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 3:30 pm the same day. The official cause of death was a cardiac arrhythmia, or heart failure, attributed to hypertensive heart disease with coronary artery disease as a contributing factor. Elvis had a history of severe health problems including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic constipation. He was also known for extensive prescription drug use, with reports indicating he was prescribed over 12,000 pills in the last 20 months of his life. Chronic drug use, combined with his poor health and lifestyle, likely contributed significantly to his heart failure. A notable theory from investigators is that Elvis suffered severe constipation and that as he attempted to defecate, his abdominal aorta was compressed, leading to his heart shutting down. Medical opinions differ, with some asserting the immediate cause was heart disease and others pointing to drug use as a major factor. The singer's health had been deteriorating due to a combination of prescription drug dependency and related medical conditions.
