Karen Carpenter is considered one of the best vocalists of all time and her legacy lives on, more than 40 years after her death.
The musician was the lead singer and drummer of the highly successful duo the Carpenters, which she formed with her older brother Richard.
The music world was left shocked when Karen, who was praised for her vocal skills, and had a distinctive three-octave contralto range, passed away at the age of only 32 on February 4, 1983.
Based on her autopsy report, Karen’s immediate cause of death was established as Hyperosmolar coma – now called Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State (HHS).
The condition, which can be fatal if not treated immediately, is characterized by extremely high blood sugar, severe dehydration and high blood osmolality (concentrated blood), Cleveland Clinic explains.
The autopsy, released on March 11, 1973, attributed Karen’s death to “emetine cardiotoxicity due to or as a consequence of anorexia nervosa.”
Her blood sugar was found to be 1,110 milligrams per deciliter (61.6 mmol/L), more than 10 times the average. The autopsy revealed that Karen was found unresponsive on her kitchen floor by her mother, who immediately called the emergency services.
Paramedics initiated CPR while transporting the singer to Downey Community Hospital in California, but life saving efforts were “of no avail” and she she was pronounced dead.
It said, “Close examination revealed no indications of trauma or foul play.”
Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner, who performed the autopsy, wrote, “From the anatomic findings and pertinent history I ascribed death to: (A) EMETINE CARDIOTOXICITY DUE TO AS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF (B) ANOREXIA NERVOSA.”
In the biography Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter, which was released in 2023, author Lucy O’Brien revealed that, a year before her death, the singer spent six months in intensive, $100-a-session therapy in a bid to improve her health.
During the sessions, Karen admitted to taking more than 90 laxatives a day in order to expel food from her body – which led her to dropping to just 89lbs (40kg/6.3stone).
Lucy said, “Karen’s willingness to set aside the time and the money showed her initial level of commitment to the therapy.”
In an excerpt from the biography, published by The Hollywood Reporter, the writer stated Karen’s “compulsive behaviors” that had developed would need to be dislodged.
This started with cutting down the amount of laxatives, as well as her use of thyroid medication Synthroid, which speeds up metabolism to lose weight faster.
Overuse of Synthroid could lead to dangerous consequences, with an overdose highly increasing the odds of her falling into a coma or having a heart attack.
When Karen rebelled against the help from Dr Steven Levenkron, he allegedly responded, “But you do need care because you are incompetent…because you can’t keep yourself alive.”
Ultimately, in September 1982, Karen would be admitted into Lennox Hill Hospital in New York, and placed on an IV nutrient drip in a bid to keep her alive.
While it worked, the weight increase put a strain on her heart. Nonetheless, returning to California that November, Karen had started looking forward to a healthier future, even planning a tour with her brother and writing music again.
But sadly, her life was cut short when she passed away in February the following year.
If you or someone you love is affected by this story, please contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD) on 888-375-7767 or email: [email protected].
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
