High blood pressure usually doesn’t come with any physical symptom, which is dangerous because when this condition is left untreated, it can lead to heart failure, heart disease, and stroke. If you have any doubt, you should get your blood pressure checked by your doctor regularly.
Anyone can be affected by high blood pressure, and since it can be caused by chronic stress, many celebrities with busy work schedules are suffering from this serious condition.
Here are ten famous celebrities with high blood pressure, and unfortunately many of them have died as a result of their condition.
1. Toni Braxton
Singer, songwriter and actress Toni Braxton discovered she had high blood pressure in 2004. She also discovered she had pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the heart.
Fortunately, thanks to medication and to an active lifestyle, this famous celebrity with high blood pressure was able to control her condition and remain in good health. Unfortunately, she has also been diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease.
2. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host, actress, and philantropist, is one of the most famous celebrities with high blood pressure. It was believed that these issues were related to her unhealthy lifestyle and diet.
With the right changes to her lifestyle and diet, she has managed to put these high blood pressure problems under control. She has also been struggling with problems related to her thyroid gland.
3. David Cook
David Cook, the singer and songwriter who won the seventh season of the singing competition American Idol in 2008, has also been struggling with signs of high blood pressure.
After taping one of the shows, in August 2008, he had to be rushed to the hospital because his blood pressure was too high, and he was not feeling well. After getting some medication, things improved for him.
4. John Singleton
John Singleton, a film director, producer and screenwriter, had to be taken off life support after suffering a massive stroke on April 28, 2019.
He had been struggling with high blood pressure for a long time, and had been experiencing some weakness in his legs some time before his stroke. After his death, his family raised awareness about the fact that many African American men and women are suffering from high blood pressure.
5. Curly Howard
Curly Howard, born Jerome Lester Horwitz, was one of the Three Stooges. In 1945, after feeling a decline in energy, he was diagnosed with hypertension and obesity, among a few other health problems.
He had to leave the famous comedy team in 1946, after suffering a stroke while waiting to be called to film a scene in a movie. He eventually died after another stroke in 1952.
6. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, from 1933 to his death in 1945. In 1944, he was diagnosed with different health issues, including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
He died on April 12, 1945, from a massive cerebral hemorrhage. His death came as a surprise to the public since his declining health was kept a secret.
7. Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter, was a singer, a songwriter, and a musician known for his bass-baritone voice. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1995, and had to cancel a tour in 1999 due to his health problems.
He was hospitalized in 2002 for kidney failure, which was partly caused by his high blood pressure. He died on July 4, 2003, a few months after suffering a stroke.
8. Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston was a singer and an actress. On February 11, 2012, she was found unconscious in the bathtub of her hotel suite, and was pronounced dead a bit later.
Even though it was revealed that cocaine and a few other drugs were found in her body, the official cause of her death was drowning, along with atherosclerotic heart disease which was linked to undiagnosed high blood pressure.
9. Michael Clarke Duncan
Michael Clarke Duncan was an actor best known for his role in the movie “The Green Mile”. He suffered from a few different health issues, including high blood pressure and kidney problems.
He suffered a heart attack on July 2012, and died on September 3 of the same year. It was believed that cardiac sarcoidosis was responsible for his death.
10. Billy Mays
Billy Mays, born William Darrell Mays Jr, was a television advertisement salesman. He was known for his passionate sales pitches, and for promoting products such as OxiClean, Mighty Putty, and Quick Chop.
He died on June 28, 2009, and the cause of his death was believed to be hypertensive heart disease, a disease related to complications of untreated chronic high blood pressure.
