Whitney Houston Drowned, But Cocaine Played Role in Her Death: Heart Attack Likely

By Dennis Romero Thu., Mar. 22 2012 at 3:13 PM

IMDB

Updated at the bottom: She likely had a heart attack. First posted at 2:28 p.m.

L.A. County coroner's investigators say Whitney Houston drowned when she died at the Beverly Hilton hotel last month. LA Weekly was the first outlet to report that she might have been found in a bathtub, which she was.

The coroner also says that cocaine and atherosclerotic heart disease were contributing factors to her death.

Coke wasn't the only death they found in her system:

Marijuana, Xanax, Flexeril and Benadryl were also found in her system "but did not contribute to the death," according to the coroner's office.

The coroner's office said a final report on her death would be released in about two weeks.

Press Release _ 2012-01022

Houston's body was found in her Beverly Hilton hotel room Feb. 11. She was planning to attend the annual pre-Grammy party of music industry mogul Clive Davis.

Reports indicated she was partying and acting erratically in the days leading up to her death.

[Update at 2:44 p.m.]: Coroner's assistant Chief Ed Winter tells the Weekly that Houston likely had a heart attack as a result of the cocaine use and previous heart issues and then drown.

If you use some cocaine and you have a bad heart it can cause you to have a heart attack which can cause you to go underwater. She had a history of heart problems ... cardiovascular disease, and she had been using cocaine.

Did she have a heart attack, we ask.

Well, yeah.

[Update at 3:13 p.m.]:

So what is "atherosclerotic heart disease?" According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, it's ...

... a disease in which plaque (plak) builds up inside your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body.
Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body.

Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.

We would assume then, if you have this, cocaine isn't the remedy but, more likely, your enemy.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

Beverly Hills, cocaine, coroner, death, marijuana, Whitney Houston

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Tyrone

fat,cholesterol,Fried Chicken, pigfeet,porkchops,cornbread, corn on da cob wits lots o butter and a bowl o crack. dat will stops yo heart gurl!!!!

Will.E.Loo

So one of the major issues that contributed to her death was the use of cocaine. Does that mean she was a crack ho? Just asking.

Mia_13

"Coke wasn't the only --death-- they found in her system" heh

Christopher Neal

Interesting in that I would think that the Marijuana, Xanax, Flexeril, and Benadryl, in combination with the hot water in the tub would make her fall asleep.

I'm no expert but I know that people use Xanax to help come down from a meth or coke binge.

Firstamendment

Silly goose Dennis-Supression of your readers 1st amendment rights....This entire piece courtesy LA Times? Well done Dennis-plaigarist extraordinaire.

Dennis Romero

Thanks first. Check the embedded press release and subsequent interview with coroner's assistant chief Ed Winter. You're a sharp reader.

DENNISISNOTVERYGOOD

Copied from the LA Times...I watched.........

Dennisnotvgood

Hey waste of space....I prefer to watch your daily struggles and for once your perception was correct-I don't physically have a pair...Prick

DENNISISNOTVERYGOOD

How many people-lets say that can pass you and see you-even distantly-in each 5 minutes period- How many of them could it be?

Dennis Romero

Right. Hey, anonytroll, if you hate me so much, at least have half a nut to admit who you are. I put my name to everything because unlike you I have a pair.