R&B SUPERSTAR CHRISETTE MICHELE AND HIP HOP DOC HIT POWERFUL NOTES ON ENDING STROKE

May 10, 2011- Every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke.  It’s the nation’s third leading cause of death and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. While stroke affects all Americans, African-American are at greater risk compared to others due to increased rates of high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes and family history.  Stroke is not inevitable and there are things you can do to reduce your risk.

When Linette Payne, mother of R&B singer Chrisette Michele, suffered a stroke, it was shocking for the entire family. Linette always taught her children to eat healthfully and to take care of their bodies. However, though an active woman, Linette neglected herself in favor of caring for her family.  And due to a lack of record-keeping, Linette wasn’t aware of the family history that could have forecasted her risk. 

Because of her connection to stroke awareness, during May, American Stroke Month, Chrisette Michele is lending her powerful voice to the cause.   Joined by Dr. Rani Whitfield, “Tha Hip Hop Doc,” a board certified family physician who rose to fame putting health messages to a hip hop beat, to offer information about:

• Recent insights from a new American Stroke Association survey of young people and their desires to live long, healthy lives, but lack of knowledge that what they do to their bodies at a young age, could affect their risk of stroke later in life
• Stroke risk factors and what you can do to help prevent stroke: from eating healthfully to regular doctor visits
• The stroke warning signs and what to do in a stroke emergency
• The 31 Days of Power stroke awareness events that are taking place across the country during May, including the You are the Power concert, featuring Chrisette Michele at the Apollo in New York.

ABOUT THE TALENT: Chrisette Michele is a 27-year-old R&B sensation. In 2007, she released the critically lauded “I Am,” which fetched Chrisette her first Grammy for the song “Be OK” which she wrote herself and was produced by Will.i.am.  In November 2010, Chrisette’s most-recent album dropped, “Let Freedom Reign,” which features the single, “I’m a Star,” written by Ne-Yo and produced by Chuck Harmony, which landed powerfully on urban mainstream and urban adult contemporary stations nationwide. Dr. Rani Whitfield is a graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN and a Board Certified Family Physician with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.  He is a national spokesperson for the American Heart and American Stroke Association and is known nationwide for his appearances on I-Village, CNN, MSNBC, and BET. Additionally, he is a physician volunteer for National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) Communities Are Responding Everywhere (C.A.R.E) Clinics.  He is affectionately known as Tha Hip Hop Doc as he uses music and medicine to educate adolescents and young adults on the health issues that affect the quality of their life.