Jamie Foxx Reveals Life-Threatening Condition That Led To His Hospitalization
Jamie Foxx has revealed the previously undisclosed medical complication that led to his hospitalization last year.
During his new Netflix stand-up special, which premiered on the streaming service on Tuesday, the actor and comedian said that he suffered a brain bleed and stroke.
Foxx said that on April 11, 2023, he experienced a “bad headache,” and asked his friend for an aspirin, but “went out” before he could take it. He said he can’t remember the next 20 days.
The Oscar winner, who was in Atlanta when his health scare occurred, explained that the first doctor who saw him gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home. But Foxx’s sister later took him to another hospital after he appeared “lethargic.”
He said that a doctor at the second hospital told his sister that he was “having a brain bleed that led to a stroke,” and that the doctor told her: “If I don’t go in his head right now, we’re going to lose him.”
Foxx said that doctors were able to confirm he was having a stroke after a procedure, but that they weren’t able to determine where the bleeding in his brain was coming from.
The actor said doctors told his sister at the time that he “may be able to make a full recovery,” but that it was going to be “the worst year” of his life.
Foxx woke up on May 4, 2023. “I found myself in a wheelchair,” he said. “I couldn’t walk.”
Foxx’s daughter Corinne Foxx announced in a statement in April last year that her father was recovering after suffering a “medical complication,” though she didn’t divulge further details about the actor’s health condition. The actor and his family have since publicly shared updates about his recovery.
In March, Foxx teased his comedy stand-up, saying that he planned to reveal details about his health scare, but that he wanted to “do it in a funny way.”
“We’re gonna be on the stage. We’re gonna get back to the stand-up sort of roots,” he said at the time.
What is a brain bleed?
A brain bleed, or intracranial hemorrhage, is a type of stroke, the brain equivalent of a heart attack. Brain bleeds are a life-threatening medical emergency that causes blood to pool between the brain and skull, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
There are two main areas where brain bleeds can occur, per the clinic’s website: within your skull, but outside of the brain tissue; or inside the brain tissue. They’re caused by “leaky, broken or burst” blood vessels.
This can happen due to several causes, such as head trauma, a blood clot, a brain tumor or a weak spot in a blood vessel wall, among other reasons.
What are the symptoms of a brain bleed?
The symptoms of a brain bleed include a sudden, painful headache that doesn’t go away and gets worse, as well as vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, pupils that are different sizes and paralysis, according to the Mayo Clinic.
How is a brain bleed diagnosed?
Imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRI scans and angiograms, are the best ways to determine the size and position of the bleeding.
Treatment for brain bleeds may include medication or surgery. Some brain hemorrhages may not require surgery, depending on the size, cause and location of the hemorrhage, as well as your general health.
The Cleveland Clinic states that you may need rehabilitation after a brain bleed to “help you regain the functions needed for daily living and prevent future brain bleeds.”
Always talk to your doctor about any health concerns. The Cleveland Clinic recommends that you contact 911 if you experience “a sudden headache, confusion and numbness on one side of your body.”
