Coroner rules on sudden death of Blackpool woman, 47, while on holiday in Scotland

A Blackpool woman with a history of lung problems died from asthma heightened by the side effects of medication while visiting a friend in Scotland.

An inquest at Blackpool Town Hall heard that Claire Yates, 47, had long suffered from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and was prescribed anti-biotics after experiencing medical difficulties during her stay in Dundee.

But after also taking the propranolol beta blocker in a bid to ease her condition, she experienced breathing difficulties and despite efforts by paramedics to help her, she died at the friend’s home in February this year.

Propranolol does not cause new cases of asthma, but is strongly contraindicated for people who already have asthma.

Medical journals say that because it is a non-selective beta-blocker, it blocks the receptors that allow airways to relax, which can trigger severe bronchospasms and asthma attacks.

A post mortem examination found heavy fluid on Ms Yates’ lungs, but no sign of infection and her primary cause of death was found to be asthma, with the side-effects of the propranolol the secondary cause.

Assistant coroner Andrew Cousins returned a conclusion of misadventure, based on the fact that the use of propranolol can heighten the risk of asthma.