Renowned rap sensation and music producer, Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, recently opened up about his gratitude for life after surviving three strokes while hospitalized for a brain aneurysm in 2021.
In a candid interview, Dr. Dre shared his harrowing experience that led to a two-week stay in intensive care. He expressed his appreciation for being alive and recounted the excruciating pain behind his right ear, describing it as the worst he had ever felt. Initially, he thought he could rest it off, but it was a friend of his son’s who insisted on taking him to the hospital, a decision that likely saved his life.
Dr. Dre’s condition was critical, with only approximately 15% of people surviving a ruptured aneurysm before reaching the hospital, according to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. He shared how the doctors were grim about his prognosis, allowing his family to visit and say their goodbyes as they assumed he might not make it.
Despite the challenges during treatment, including not eating for two weeks, Dr. Dre emerged with a newfound appreciation for life. He emphasized the importance of physical health, particularly for black men, noting the hereditary and often unpreventable nature of conditions like high blood pressure, which is prevalent in the black community.
Dr. Dre’s survival sheds light on the disproportionate risk faced by African-Americans and Hispanics regarding brain aneurysms, highlighting the importance of awareness and preventive measures within these communities. A brain aneurysm, characterized by an artery’s enlargement due to vessel wall weakness, can lead to life-threatening bleeding on the brain if it ruptures.
