Photo by Emma McIntyre
Originally published for Blackdoctor.org
One of hip-hop’s most prolific producers, Dr. Dre, is finally getting his place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After contributing to changing the sound of hip-hop and being behind the music of some of hip-hop’s greatest hits, some say it’s long overdue. While reflecting on his career and life, Dr. Dre revealed how his health regime has changed since suffering a brain aneurysm just a couple of years prior.
In an interview on SiriusXM’s This Life of Mine with James Corden, the 59-year-old music hip-hop mogul recalled having “three strokes” while in the hospital for his brain aneurysm in 2021.
When reflecting on the frightening ordeal, Dre further revealed to Corden, “It’s just something that you can’t control that just happens and during those two weeks, I had three strokes.”
When detailing what led to the trip to the hospital initially, Dre recalled waking up with a feeling behind his right ear that turned into “the worst pain.”
“I got up and I went on about my day, and I thought that I could just lay down and take a nap. My son had a female friend that was there and was like, ‘No, we need to take you to the hospital,’” he said. “So they took me to urgent care.” He was soon told it was “serious.”
“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. I’m hearing the doctors coming in and saying, ‘You don’t know how lucky you are.’”
After asking the doctors what he could’ve done to prevent the aneurysm, Dre said, “Nobody could give me an answer. I had no idea that I had high blood pressure or anything like that because I’m on my health s***. I’m lifting weights, I’m running, I’m doing everything I can to keep myself healthy.”
Black Americans have a higher prevalence of stroke and higher death rate from stroke than any other racial group. Stroke is a “brain attack” that
most often occurs when blood that brings oxygen to your brain stops flowing and brain cells die. Black stroke survivors are significantly less likely to be treated for many complications, including fatigue, spasticity and depression, compared with white stroke survivors.
Not all the reasons are clear why Black people have an increased risk of stroke. We do know that there is a higher number of risk factors and societal challenges that may underlie new cases of stroke in Black Americans.
The experience of racism results in chronic discrimination, stress, and depression that adversely impacts Black Americans. Excessive stress can lead to long-lasting and cumulative damage to the body and brain, resulting in deteriorating health in early adulthood among Black populations.
Stroke risk factors in Black Americans include:
• High blood pressure — Over half of Black adults have high blood pressure. It develops earlier in Black people and is often more difficult to manage.
• Overweight and obesity — Almost 70% of black men and over 80% of black women are overweight or obese.
• Diabetes — African Americans are more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.
• Sickle cell anemia — This common genetic disorder in African Americans is a risk factor for stroke.
• High cholesterol — Nearly 25% of Black people have high levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.
• Smoking — Over 14% of black adults smoke, increasing their risk of stroke two- to fourfold.
• Not exercising regularly — On average, fewer than half of Black adults meet the weekly goal of at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75
minutes of vigorous activity (or a combination of both), which increases their stroke risk.
• Stress — African American adults face daily stressors that may increase risk for stroke.
Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, was an original member of N.W.A. and is a music producer and entrepreneur. He produced some of the biggest names in hip hop, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, The Game and Kendrick Lamar.
After the Stroke, What Is Dr. Dre Doing Now?
The artist was also told he had high blood pressure, which he said came as a surprise because he maintained a healthy lifestyle.
“I’m lifting weights, I’m running, I’m doing
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