Luke Perry, the star of Beverly Hills, 90210, tragically passed away in 2019 after a stroke.
The actor was only 52 when he died, and it was found that his death was due to a blood clot blocking a blood vessel, preventing blood flow and oxygen from reaching his brain. His sudden death left his loved ones shocked as he had been in good health.
However, his post-mortem examination revealed another potential contributing factor – the frequent flights he took prior to his death. Forensic pathologist Dr Michael Hunter explained during an episode of Autopsy: The Last Hours of: “The blood flow to his brain was blocked, causing a catastrophic stroke.”
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Dr Hunter continued: “When investigating the cause of Luke’s stroke, I have to consider any factor of his life that may result in blood vessel blockage. And I’m interested in the fact that he was taking regular flights from LA to Vancouver in order to film Riverdale.”
(Image: WireImage)
Just nine days before his untimely death, Luke, who would’ve turned 56 today (October 11, 2024), was returning home to Los Angeles after filming two scenes on his last day on set. He confessed that he didn’t enjoy the constant travel for work and it might have negatively impacted his health.
Dr Hunter revealed: “It’s well documented that sitting for prolonged periods in a cramped space like an airplane presents a risk of deep vein thrombosis. DVT occurs when circulation slows and a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside the body, most often in the leg. If that clot moves, it can block essential blood vessels.”
He admitted, though, that it’s “extremely rare” for DVT to lead to strokes and unusual for the condition to emerge on flights under six hours. His colleague commented that he was “always doing something” on the flight instead of being “just a lump in a chair”.
(Image: Getty Images)
Dr Hunter ultimately dismissed the possibility of deep vein thrombosis playing a part in Luke’s death. However, he pointed out past smoking habits as a potential factor: “Smoking is one of the leading causes of stroke.”
He also cited genetics as a possible issue since Luke’s father died at 35 from a heart attack, where alcohol addiction played a role. Dr Hunter noted: “Research has shown that a child whose parents struggle with an alcohol abuse disorder is up to four times more likely to become an alcoholic.”
Alcohol-related issues like atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure can precipitate a stroke. Yet, those close to Luke never saw him as a heavy drinker, pushing this theory aside too.
Luke’s passing was ultimately attributed to his diet high in cholesterol and family history, as Dr Hunter explained: “[They] made him prone to Atherosclerosis, a major cause of stroke.”
(Image: Getty Images)
The actor had previously faced a significant health scare in 2015, when a colonoscopy revealed precancerous growths, prompting him to alter his diet to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
In response to his health scare, Luke became an advocate for cancer awareness, stating: “When I heard that this was the most detectable cancer that we know of yet it’s the second most lethal, I just couldn’t figure out why that was and I wanted to get out there and tell people about it. Right now, there are 23million Americans who haven’t been screened that need to be screened. If I had waited, it could have been a whole different scenario.”
Following his health scare, Luke was often seen at the gym and made a conscious effort to reduce his consumption of red meat and potatoes, making his sudden passing all the more heartbreaking.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
