More than a year and a half after reports emerged that Jamie Foxx had a medical emergency, the actor, singer and comedian finally revealed that he had suffered a stroke in April 2023. In his new Netflix stand-up special Jamie Foxx: What happened was… The Oscar winner describes his near-death experience and grueling rehabilitation and credits his sister with saving his life.

Here’s what you should know about Foxx’s stroke and the brain hemorrhage that caused it.

Headaches became life-threatening

On April 11, 2023, Foxx developed a searing headache in Atlanta. A friend gave him an aspirin, but the star lost consciousness before he could take the pill. He was taken to a doctor, who he says gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home. But Foxx’s younger sister, who was with him, sensed that something much worse was happening to her brother. He said: “My sister said, ‘No – get him in the car; This is not my brother.” Foxx says his sister drove “aimlessly” around Atlanta and eventually took him to Piedmont Hospital. There, a doctor diagnosed Foxx with a brain hemorrhage that had led to a stroke and said he needed immediate surgery.

While Foxx jokes about the many rumors and social media reactions about his so-called “mystery illness,” his health concerns remain a mystery. His doctor at Piedmont Hospital was never able to determine the cause of the brain hemorrhage. The doctor also told Foxx’s sister, “He may make a full recovery, but he’s going to have the worst year of his life.”

Foxx “woke up” on May 4th and had no memory of the past 20 days. He says he couldn’t walk (and needed a wheelchair), his speech was impaired and he shook his head. He was then flown to Chicago to begin his recovery.

What is a brain hemorrhage and how does it cause a stroke?

A stroke is a serious medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. It can be caused by blood clots, blockages in blood vessels, or a brain hemorrhage, which occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and begins bleeding into the brain.

A brain bleed that Foxx suffered is also called a hemorrhagic stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke each year. According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), about 13% of these are hemorrhagic strokes. Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States. About a third of survivors are left permanently disabled, and only about half of all victims are still alive five years after their first stroke. According to Northwestern Medicine, Foxx is among the 10% of people who make a “near complete” recovery from a stroke.

The risk of stroke increases with age, with people aged 65 and older most likely to suffer the stroke – but the CDC says the average age of a first stroke is decreasing. Foxx, now 56, is among the growing number of Americans suffering a stroke in middle age. Today, about 25% of stroke victims are younger than 65 years.

Black Americans like Foxx are nearly twice as likely to have a stroke as their white counterparts, according to the CDC. In some ways, the increased risk of stroke and other cardiovascular problems among black men reflects disparities in health status and access to health care. Black men are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than their white counterparts, and for them the problem is more likely to begin at a younger age.

Along with age, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke. Others include:

• Transient transient ischemic attack (or TIA, a mild stroke that usually does not cause long-term disability)

Prevent strokes and recognize the first signs

Strokes usually occur in people who suffer from any of the medical conditions listed above. The good news is that you can dramatically reduce your risk of these precursors by making lifestyle changes according to the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” guidelines:

You can also check out the recently updated U.S. screening guidelines to see if you need to be evaluated by your doctor.

And remember, acting quickly — like Foxx’s sister did — is the key to improving chances of survival and recovery. To do this, you need to recognize the signs that indicate that you should immediately seek medical attention:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

• Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding speech

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes

• Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause