What killed Brittany Murphy

The death of American actress Brittany Murphy was caused by pneumonia and a toxic mix of prescription and over the counter medications, a coroner has ruled.

The coroner added that anaemia, caused by an iron deficiency, was a contributing factor in her death. No illegal drugs were found in her system. Her death was ruled accidental.

So, what are pneumonia and iron-deficiency anaemia?

Pneumonia, and how can you tell you have it

Pneumonia is an inflammation of lung tissues, and is usually caused by an infection. The inflammation makes you cough and also makes it harder to breathe, which means the body cannot absorb oxygen well.

It can affect people of any age, though, in practice, it tends to affect the very young and the old; those who smoke; and those with a lung condition or a weakened immune system.

Pneumonia symptoms can vary from person to person, but there are generally some common ones. These include:

• Coughing up phlegm that is yellow, green, brownish or blood stained
• Wheezing
• A rapid heartbeat
• Fever
• Generally feeling unwell
• Sweating and shivering
• Loss of appetite
• Chest pain

A mild case of pneumonia can usually be treated at home with antibiotics. The treatment should be effective within a couple of days. If it is not, the doctor may prescribe a different kind or an additional antibiotic.

If you are exhibiting symptoms, in the first instance you can take a painkiller like paracetamol to reduce fever and relieve pain. Stay away from cough medicines, as coughing helps you clear mucus from the lungs.

Make sure to drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration, and gets lots of rest. It's a really good idea to stop smoking.

In case the pneumonia symptoms are severe, the patient may have to be hospitalized.

Anaemia and its causes

Iron-deficiency anaemia is the most common form of anaemia. It occurs when the body lacks enough iron to keep the red blood cells functioning properly. This, in turn, means that the body's organs and tissues get a reduced amount of oxygen.

The most common symptoms of iron-deficiency anaemia are:

• Tiredness
• Lethargy
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heart beat

Physically, the patient's appearance might change and they may have:

• A pale complexion
• An abnormally smooth tongue
• Painful ulcers on the corner of the mouth
• Dry, flaking nails
• Spoon shaped nails

There are many causes of iron-deficiency anaemia. It can be caused by blood loss in your stomach or intestines; the prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin; by stomach ulcers; by stomach or colon cancer; or, more commonly, in women, by menstruations or by pregnancy. Finally, it can be caused by a poor diet, though in practice even iron-poor diets rarely cause iron-deficiency anaemia.

If you suspect you have iron-deficiency anaemia, this can be determined through a simple blood test which will measure the amount of haemoglobin and the number of red blood cells in your blood. You may also have to undergo a physical examination.

If you are diagnosed as having an iron deficiency, this can be treated by taking iron supplements, such as ferrous sulphate. It does not generally have side effects, though in cases where it does, the doctor can prescribe a different supplement called ferrous gluconate, which contains a lower dose of iron.

If your diet is deemed to contain insufficient iron, there are foods you can include in your new diet. They include:

• Dark green vegetables like spinach
• Bread fortified with iron
• Beans
• Nuts
• Meat
• Apricots
• Prunes
• Raisins

Your doctor will ask you to return for a check up several weeks after you've started taking iron supplements to ensure that the treatment has been effective, and for periodic checks thereafter.

This article was published on Fri 5 February 2010