How did Karen Carpenter DIE?

Answer 1

She died of cardiac arrest due to her battle with anorexia. She died in Feb 1983 at 32 years old alone in apartment.

Answer 2

Karen Carpenter developed anorexia as a result of complexities in her life, and died while visiting her parents home on the morning of Feb. 4, 1983.

Karen's mother Agnes had always favored her brother Richard even when she, with her velvety alto voice, obviously became the star of the Carpenters. Richard and Agnes were very controlling, and Karen ended up controlling the only thing she could -- her weight. In addition to these contributing factors, Karen suffered from low self-esteem and did not feel proud of her body. She had been chubby as a teenager. Apparently, someone called her chubby in a magazine review, and a manager told her she had to lose weight for television. After that, her weight began falling.

And as the anorexia spiralled out of control, Karen began taking laxatives 70 to 90 tablets at a time, and also abusing synthroid (she had a normal thyroid gland and was taking 10 times the normal dose of synthroid!) and syrup of ipecac. These drugs along with years of starvation damaged the lead singer's heart. More specifically, the autopsy lists emetine (ipecac syrup) cardiotoxicity due to anorexia as the cause of death. Anorexics and bulimics abuse this over-the-counter medication as a means of vomiting up their food. It destroys skeletal as well as cardiac muscle, but I doubt Karen was aware of the dangers.

Richard Carpenter insists that his sister did not use ipecac, but that is what is listed as the first cause of death on the autopsy report. He says he never received anything showing emetine toxicity from Karen's reports-- however, it is available for anyone to view in an LA County Coroner book. That document came from an address in PA where a sample of Karen's liver was sent in order to test specifically for that substance, and that test did indeed determine the presence of emetine in Karen's body.

Answer 3

On February 4, 1983, approximately a month before her thirty-third birthday, Carpenter experienced heart failure at her parents' home in Downey and was taken to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead twenty minutes later at the age of 32. She suffered cardiac arrest at 09.51 AM Pacific Standard Time. The LA Coroner gave the cause of death as "heartbeat irregularities brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa".

Answer 4

Emetine Cardiotoxicity

Answer 5

She was anorexic, and over the years of starving herself, the lack of protein and nutrients weakened her heart. She died of a heart attack caused by long term anorexia.

Answer 6

Anorexia, im scared that i will die of the same thing

Answer 7

Starved herself to death, thus causing a metabolic imbalance in her body, which lead to her organs shutting down.

Answer 8

She died of heartbeat irregularities due to chemical inbalances.

Answer 9

Karen's brother was so self absorbed he didn't see what was happening right under his nose. His excuse, I was doing drugs. WTF, you had to be straight at some point right. Lame!

Answer 10

heart attack due to anorexia.....not eating
she was well loved and still missed by her fans!