Rapper Coolio, 59, sadly passed away after a suspected heart attack on September 28.
The star burst onto the rap scene with WC and the Maad Circle before becoming an icon with his smash hit Gangsta’s Paradise back in 1995.
Previously working as a volunteer firefighter, Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr, was found unresponsive at a home in downtown LA on Wednesday.
EMT rushed to the scene after one of his friends called emergency services to try and revive the star but were unsuccessful.
Some fans have speculated it was the rapper’s asthma which may have caused his death. However, his long-time manager, Jarez, claims it was a suspected heart attack.
What is a heart attack?
Known medically as a myocardial infarction, a heart attack is a medical emergency which can often be fatal.
It occurs when the heart muscle dies due to insufficient blood flow.
This reduced blood flow is often caused by a blockage in the arteries which supplies blood to the heart.
A heart attack will occur if this blood flow isn’t restored immediately.
Symptoms of a heart attack
Early signs of a heart attack are not always the obvious. Although chest pain, which can be mild and feel like a heaviness or discomfort, is the more common warning there are a number of lesser-known early indications.
These may include nausea, indigestion or heartburn.
Other potential warning signs may include:
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Stomach discomfort
- Heart palpitations
- Anxiety or a feeling of “impending doom.”
- Sweating
- Feeling lightheaded, dizzy or passing out
Factors increasing your risk for having a heart attack include:
- Age and sex
- Family history of heart disease
- History of preeclampsia, a condition that can develop during pregnancy
- Lifestyle
- If you have certain health conditions or diseases
If you think you might be having a heart attack, or someone else is, call 999 immediately. The faster you act, the better are their chances, says the NHS.
What happened to Coolio?
Coolio had suffered from asthma for most of his life.
He had previously said about his condition in a 2002 interview with USA Today that he “had to realise I had a chronic disease which needs to be treated for as long as necessary.”
It is unknown if his asthma may have triggered the heart attack.
There were no drugs or drug paraphernalia found, police also reported.
The star is survived by his ex-wife, Josefa Salinas and their four children and other additional children of up to six.
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