Potassium can cause problems, but it takes quite a bit of it. It is the active ingredient in euthanasia and executions. It is present in many foods but hardly ever added as a supplement.
Heart failure is a term referring to the inability of the heart to pump blood efficiently. Usually it is the result of problems with the kidneys.
The heart is perfectly sized to pump a proportionate amount on both sides. It is tuly amazing. One side pumps to the body, the other side to the lungs. If the balance is off, you get swelling in the extremities, if it is off the other way, you get fluid in the lungs.
I think that if he died of heart failure, he would have died slowly. If he died of a heart attack, it might be said that his heart failed, but that wouldn't be heart failure. That's what I believe. As far as if it were foul play, I would suspect a sudden infusion of potassium, either in a drink or injected. Death would be quick and no trace would remain.
And not having much can too.
Extremities swelling I knew but fluid in lungs never occurred to me. Good info well put. Thanks!
Would an infusion of potassium cause him to be bright red? Do you know an explanation for the bright red color of his skin, as reported by a witness?