Corey Haim dies probably of pulmonary congestion

Corey Ian Haim, a Canadian actor, has died Wednesday probably of pulmonary congestion at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, according to media reports. He was 38.

His mother told Access Hollywood that Haim had an enlarged heart, pulmonary congestion and water in his lungs when he collapsed.

Yesterday, Los Angeles police said Haim's death appeared to be accidental and may have been due to an overdose, but no illicit drugs were found at the scene, wikipedia reports.

Haim's publicist suggested Haim's death had nothing to do with illicit drugs and pointed out that he had been ill with flu-like symptoms for two days before he died.

New York Daily News cited Access Hollywood as reporting that Haim was a drug addict and had prescriptions for valium, vicodin and a muscle relaxant in his Burbank apartment.

So what is pulmonary congestion?  Pulmonary congestion is a condition in which an abnormal amount of fluid builds up in the lungs which leads to swelling.

Pulmonary congestion or pulmonary edema can be caused by a number of disease or health conditions. Heart failure is a common cause for pulmonary congestion.

Pulmonary congestion symptoms include anxiety, cough, difficult breathing, excessive sweating, pale skin, restlessness, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing up blood, and nasal flaring.

No official autopsy reports have been released yet and the cause of Haim's death remains to be established.