Ray J Claims “25 Percent” Heart Function, Tells Fans Doctors Gave a Grim Warning
R&B singer, TV presenter, and actor Ray J, 45, has stated he is facing a serious heart problem after a recent hospital stay for pneumonia and heart pain. Tragically, he’s telling fans he may only have months left to live.
TMZ reported that Ray J said doctors aren’t sure how long he has. They put him on bed rest and prescribed eight different medications as they try to stop issues from getting worse.
His doctors also raised the possibility of a pacemaker or a defibrillator, with a follow-up visit in two weeks.
In an Instagram update, Ray J said he “almost died,” thanked supporters for their prayers, and claimed his heart is “only beating at 25 percent.”
During the health update, the star blamed heavy substance use, including alcohol, Adderall, and other drugs. A warning for anyone going down similar routes.
What does “25%” even mean?
In medicine, a number like that often links to ejection fraction, which measures how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each beat.
According to the American Heart Association, a normal ejection fraction is typically around 55% to 70%, and a lower number can be a sign of heart failure.
When the heart isn’t pumping well, symptoms can show up in everyday ways that are easy to brush off at first.
Symptoms and what to look out for
The Mayo Clinic notes that heart failure symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath, especially with activity or when lying down
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the legs or ankles
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat
Because symptoms vary from person to person, it can take weeks before the dots are connected and help is sought.
It’s important to know that heart failure and heart attacks don’t necessarily go hand in hand, even if they can blur together.
Heart failure often shows up as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling, but chest discomfort can still be a red flag because a heart attack can trigger heart damage and worsen heart failure.
According to the American Heart Association, heart failure has its own warning signs, and the CDC states that heart attacks can bring chest pain, breathing trouble, and pain that spreads to the jaw, neck, back, or arm.
If chest pain is new or unexplained, the Mayo Clinic says to call 911 right away.
If you have these symptoms, get medical help
If you have these symptoms, don’t try to tough it out or sleep it off. If you or someone near you has chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, or pain that spreads to the arm, back, neck, or jaw, call 911 right away.
As for Ray J, he’s sharing his own account. The symptoms he’s describing are the kind doctors take seriously, and so should the rest of us.
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