Stay in your living room and still spike your heart rate. “Wow….I was just told that Ralphie May passed. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to heart or vascular disease in several different ways: It can cause hardening of the arteries or a thickening of the heart muscle itself. “If the heart muscle is starved of nutrients, that can trigger a heart attack or even death.”. Once damage to the heart becomes severe, people may begin to have symptoms, like chest pain or trouble breathing while walking or lying down. All products and services featured are selected by our editors.

A cardiologist weighs in on the growing number of heart problems she sees in patients under 55. Our Coroner/Medical Examiner has determined that Ralph May, 45, of Nashville, Tenn., died on Oct. 6, 2017, from Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease. Ralphie May 's cause of death has been revealed. May died at age 45 on Oct. 6; his body was found the same day at a private residence in Las Vegas. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Our Coroner/Medical Examiner has determined that Ralph May, 45, of Nashville, Tenn., died on Oct. 6, 2017, from Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease. According to his publicist Stacey Pokluda, Ralphie May’s cause of death was cardiac arrest. First published on December 7, 2017 / 11:53 AM. “Ralphie May’s cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease,” a spokesperson for the Clark County Coroner told Us Weekly on Wednesday, December 6. Just weeks after May’s death, an announcement from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology highlighted the fact that high blood pressure is not just an issue for older people. Amid the news of the comic’s shocking death, many celebrities took to Twitter to mourn him. If blood pressure gets too high, it strains the walls of the arteries—which can lead to thickening—and puts excess pressure on the heart.

We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. May’s family and friends. Demonstrators gather for Women's March in Washington, D.C. New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern wins second term in landslide, Federal government to execute first woman since 1953, Suspect in teacher's beheading in France was Chechen teen, "Big pile" of eels dumped at lake in Brooklyn park, Shark Lab tags record number of sharks off Southern Calif. coast, Battleground Tracker: Latest polls, state of the race and more, 5 things to know about CBS News' 2020 Battleground Tracker, CBS News coverage of voting rights issues. Health.com may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Be in the know.

May, a Tennessee native who was raised in Arkansas, parlayed a second-place finish on TV's "Last Comic Standing" in 2003 into TV and club appearances. “All of these things make it harder for the heart to work and can lead to heart failure,” says Dr. Patterson. Two months after comedian Ralphie May was found dead in a Las Vegas private residence, the cause of his death has been revealed. A spokesperson with the Clark County Coroner confirmed to E! Clean out expired products and clutter to make way for a healthier you. May, 45, died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, Clark County Coroner’s office confirmed today to People. December 7, 2017 / 11:53 AM Kylie Jenner Sleeps in This $10 Organic Oil to Keep Skin Soft and Glowing, We Found a Cardigan Just Like J. Lo’s $995 Coach One for Under $30 Using StyleSnap, Celebrity Deaths in 2017: Stars We’ve Lost, Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time. The manner of his death was natural. “There were no drugs found in … His publicist said May's survivors include his wife, Lahna Turner, and children April June and August James. Copyright © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. What happens if the president doesn't accept the election results? We're loving their inspirational, body-positive messages. That means that about 103 million Americans—about 46% of the adult population—now meet the criteria for high blood pressure, which should be monitored and treated by a doctor. McConnell: Senate to vote next week on GOP COVID-19 relief bill, U.S. sees over 69,000 new virus cases – most in a single day since July, Trump rallies in Wisconsin as state's COVID-19 cases climb. RIP.” Bob Saget added: “Ralphie May. © 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Offers may be subject to change without notice. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. On October 6, the day May’s body was discovered, May’s manager said in a statement that the Last Comic Standing star had been battling pneumonia and had canceled several recent tour dates in an effort to recover. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which May was diagnosed with after his death, is a broad term that could mean a few different things, says Dr. Patterson. “Earlier this morning at a private residence in Las Vegas his body was discovered, cause of death is cardiac arrest.”. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube! He was a friend to many and a father of 2 beautiful children. “Nobody feels the force of blood against their artery walls,” she says, “so it’s possible to have no idea this is going on for a long time, until your organs and your heart have been badly damaged.”. Rest In Peace.”. “And let’s not forget about stress, which changes the neurotransmitters in the brain and triggers the adrenal glands to produce hormones that increase blood pressure,” she says. Dr. Patterson says physicians are seeing more and more people under the age of 55 with high blood pressure and heart disease, and it’s not just because of changing medical definitions. Ralphie May’s official cause of death has been revealed. “He was a good dude. Here's What to Do, 9 Signs It's More Serious Than the Common Cold, How Your Period Changes During Your 20s, 30s, and 40s, 12 Anxiety Symptoms That Might Point to a Disorder, Shannen Doherty Reveals Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis—Here's What It Means, The Best (and Worst) Diets of 2020, According to Experts, 10 Moves for a Cardio Workout at Home—No Equipment Required, These 13 Women Prove Every Body Is a Bikini Body, 20 Things You Should Throw Away for Better Health, died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, 20 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally. But one big problem, says Dr. Patterson, is that blood pressure isn’t something people can feel on a day-to-day basis. His publicist, Stacey Pokluda, said May had been fighting pneumonia, which caused him to cancel a few appearances in the last month of his life. TMZ has learned. "I'm petrified," the actress said when she shared the news that her breast cancer came back. May had been battling pneumonia for the past six weeks and passed away after doing into cardiac arrest… “There were no drugs found in his system at the time of death, so it is being ruled as a natural death.”, As previously reported, the comedian died in Las Vegas on October 6, after suffering cardiac arrest. He was booked through the rest of 2017 at Harrah's Las Vegas. How to handle a physician who doubts or dismisses your symptoms. The office tweeted on Wednesday that May died of natural causes from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Part of the A360 Media Entertainment Group.

“We should be checking patients with risk factors as early as possible,” says Dr. Patterson, “because the damage can start as early as adolescence, and it’s important to address these problems sooner rather than later.”, Ralphie May's Cause of Death Has Been Revealed. ), A family history, lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, and heavy alcohol use are also risk factors for both high blood pressure and heart disease, says Dr. Patterson. Ralphie May died from hypertensive cardiovascular disease ... TMZ has learned. pic.twitter.com/pLsZmvP8Qw. It’s possible, though, for this type of damage to build up over years of high blood pressure without any symptoms at all, or for a sudden event like a heart attack or stroke to occur with no warning at all. Amid the news of the comic’s shocking death.