Renowned hip-hop artist and producer Dr. Dre disclosed that he experienced three strokes during his hospitalization for a brain aneurysm three years ago.
During an interview on SiriusXM’s “This Life of Mine with James Corden,” the 59-year-old Dre discussed how his condition rapidly deteriorated after being admitted for pain behind his right ear.
“Next thing you know, I’m blacking out. I’m in and out of consciousness, and I ended up in the ICU. I was there for two weeks,” Dre recounted. “I’m hearing the doctors coming in and saying, ‘You don’t know how lucky you are.'”
Dre, whose birth name is Andre Young, gained fame as an original member of N.W.A. and has established himself as a prominent music producer and entrepreneur. He has worked with iconic figures in hip hop such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, The Game, and Kendrick Lamar.
During those two weeks, Dre revealed that he experienced three strokes. Additionally, he was informed that he had high blood pressure, which caught him off guard as he had maintained a healthy lifestyle.
“I’m lifting weights, I’m running, I’m doing everything I can to keep myself healthy. I said, ‘Would that have prevented it if I had worked out a little bit harder or ate differently or something like that?’ It’s like, no. That’s hereditary,” he explained.
Dre expressed how the ordeal deepened his gratitude for life. “It’s really surreal, especially on my way home from the hospital because it could have gone either way,” the artist reflected. “I don’t know. It’s just surreal, realizing I had no control over it. It’s a reminder that life can take unexpected turns.”
What is the likelihood of experiencing a stroke after a brain aneurysm ruptures?
The specific type of stroke triggered by a brain aneurysm rupture is termed a hemorrhagic stroke. This occurs when a weakened area on an artery within the brain expands with blood (the aneurysm) and bursts, exerting pressure on surrounding brain tissue, as detailed by the CDC.
Annually, approximately 30,000 individuals in the United States suffer from a brain aneurysm rupture, according to data provided by the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF), equating to an estimated rupture occurring every 18 minutes.
Statistics reveal that ruptured brain aneurysms contribute to 3-5% of all new strokes, as reported by the BAF. Furthermore, research indicates that 1 in 4 survivors of strokes are at risk of experiencing another stroke, as highlighted by the American Stroke Association.