British singer songwriter shares emotional recovery from stroke aged 39

The award-winning musician, aged 39, was told by doctors that the stroke was a result of undiagnosed high blood pressure, which triggered a bleed on the brain.

A stroke occurs when there is a disruption of blood supply to part of the brain, leading to brain injury.

Kiwanuka became critically ill earlier this year, undergoing emergency surgery, being treated in an intensive care unit and spending five months in hospital before moving to a rehabilitation centre in Hampshire. 

Alongside the announcement of his new album Fudge, he shared an emotional health update with fans.

In a post shared on Instagram, he said: “It’s a long journey recovering from a stroke.

“I’m not sure when I’ll be able to be back out on the road or what that will look like, the brain injury I suffered was quite severe so there’s a lot of rehab to be done, it’s a long, tough journey ahead but I’m fighting to get better.

In an interview with The Guardian, Kiwanuka said he experienced no symptoms before the stroke, and doesn’t know if his lifestyle or career as a busy touring musician contributed to it, with frequent early flights and late-night shows.

He also said he has since learned that he was particularly at risk of a stroke because of the increased susceptibility to high blood pressure among Black African males.

Kiwanuka says he wants his story to encourage others to get their blood pressure tested, as there are usually no symptoms, so individuals may not realise they have it.

High blood pressure can lead to stroke in different ways. It can lead to blood clots in the brain and can damage the tiny blood vessels deep inside the brain. It can also make a stroke due to bleeding in the brain more likely.

You can read more about stroke, its causes and treatment here.

Photo by Jeroen Komen - Michael Kiwanuka, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link