How Bruce Lee died?

Bruce Lee's death on July 20, 1973, is attributed to cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain, but the exact cause of this swelling has been the subject of various theories and debates. Here are the key points:

Official Cause

The official cause of death was determined to be cerebral edema due to a hypersensitivity reaction to a prescription medication. Lee had taken the painkiller Equagesic, which is a combination of aspirin and the anti-anxiety medication meprobamate, after complaining of a headache. This was concluded after a coroner's inquest involving forensic pathologists from around the world134.

Alternative Theories

Over the years, several alternative theories have emerged:

• Heat Stroke and Over-exertion: A 2018 biography by Matthew A. Polly suggested that the cerebral edema could have been caused by over-exertion and heat stroke, particularly given that Lee had his underarm sweat glands removed in 19721.
• Hyponatremia Due to Excessive Water Intake: A 2022 study by kidney specialists from Spain proposed that Lee's death might have been caused by drinking too much water, leading to hyponatremia (a condition where the body holds too much water, causing a low sodium level in the blood). This theory suggests that Lee's kidneys were unable to excrete excess water, leading to cerebral edema2.

Circumstances of Death

On the day of his death, Lee visited the home of Taiwanese actress Betty Ting Pei in Kowloon, Hong Kong. After acting out some scenes for an upcoming movie and experiencing a headache, he took an Equagesic pill and lay down for a nap. He was later found unconscious and was pronounced dead at the hospital123.

Despite these various theories, the official cause remains linked to the hypersensitivity reaction to the prescription medication.