John Singleton Died of a Stroke at Age 51—His Family Encourages Recognizing Signs of This Health Problem

John Singleton died on April 28th, 2019 after suffering from a stroke. The director was just 51. Singleton was on life support for 13 days before his family decided to take him off it, People reported.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved son, father, and friend, John Daniel Singleton, passed away today due to complications from a stroke he suffered last Wednesday," says a statement from Singleton's family, which was obtained by People.

Singleton was well-known for his 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood. He became not only the first African-American man to be nominated for an Oscar for best director but also the youngest person nominated for that award.

The statement announcing Singleton's death mentions his family's decision to remove him from life support. "This was an agonizing decision, one that our family made, over a number of days, with the careful counsel of John's doctors," according to the statement.

Singleton's death follows the death of another young, seemingly healthy Hollywood star who also suffered a stroke: actor Luke Perry. The Riverdale star had a stroke and was taken off life support in March 2019, passing away at age 52.

Seriousness of Recognizing Symptoms

The two deaths underscore the seriousness of stroke symptoms and that anyone experiencing them should seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms include difficulty speaking; trouble understanding another person; numbness or paralysis in the face, arm, or leg; a headache; difficulty walking; and difficulty seeing.

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What caused Singleton's stroke? It's unclear, but People reports that Singleton's family says he "quietly struggled with hypertension." Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a stroke risk factor. "More than 40% of African American men and women have high blood pressure, which also develops earlier in life and is usually more severe," says a statement from the family promoting stroke awareness.

Lifestyle Changes

Certain lifestyle changes can lower your risk of suffering a stroke. Smoking increases your chances of having a stroke, as does eating a diet that isn't rich in vegetables and fruits. Controlling diabetes can also decrease your odds of having a stroke.

Age is also a risk factor for stroke. "People age 55 or older have a higher risk of stroke than do younger people," according to Mayo Clinic. Additionally, "African Americans have a higher risk of stroke than do people of other races," the site states. Men are more likely to suffer from a stroke than women, but women are more likely than men to die if they experience a stroke.

FAST Stroke Symptoms

The acronym "FAST" is used to help people be aware of the signs of a life-threatening stroke.

"F" stands for the face. If one side of a person's face is drooping, this could indicate they're experiencing a stroke.

"A" stands for the arms. Mayo Clinic says that if you think you're having a stroke, you should ask, "Does one arm drift downward? Or is one arm unable to rise up?" These problems are also symptoms of a stroke.

"S" is for your speech. Slurred or unusual speech can be a symptom of stroke.

Lastly, "T" stands for time. It is essential to get help and treatment quickly if you or a loved one shows these FAST signs of a stroke. "If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately," Mayo Clinic says.