Brian May: Queen guitarist suffers minor stroke but says he's OK

Sir Brian mentioned that he is currently unable to increase his heart rate too much.

Queen's guitar player, Sir Brian May, shared that he recently experienced a small stroke that affected his ability to use his left arm.

Nevertheless, the veteran rock star, who is 77 years old, mentioned that he is feeling better and has recovered enough mobility to resume playing music.

In a video shared on his website on Wednesday, he expressed his happiness that he can now play guitar again after the recent events.

I want to mention that there was some uncertainty due to a small health issue I talked about that occurred about a week ago. The doctors referred to it as a mild stroke.

Suddenly, with no warning, I completely lost control of my arm. It was quite frightening, I must admit.

May composed some of Queen's most popular songs, such as We Will Rock You, Who Wants to Live Forever, and Flash.

He spoke highly of the medical staff at Frimley Hospital in Surrey, expressing his appreciation for their care during his urgent arrival.

"Great news, I'm fine. I'm just following instructions to rest and do nothing."

He mentioned that he was "grounded", explaining: "I cannot go out - I cannot drive, cannot fly, cannot exert myself too much."

Sir Brian recorded the video outside, and when a plane passed overhead, he made a joke: "I can't have planes flying over me, it'll make me stressed. But I'm okay."

The celebrity explained that he chose not to speak publicly about his minor stroke because he didn't want to receive sympathy.

"Please refrain from doing that as it will overcrowd my inbox and I strongly dislike that," he mentioned.

The news came out nearly fourteen days after a BBC One show hosted by Sir Brian aired. The show focused on his efforts to safeguard badgers from being culled.

In his latest video, he also talked about the program, mentioning that it had garnered positive feedback from farmers, as well as wildlife enthusiasts.

Getting rid of badgers is a method that is used to stop the spread of TB in cows.

The musician stated: "We have faced fierce criticism from certain groups, and it's important to analyze the situation closely. The ones who are shouting the loudest are usually the ones who feel the most vulnerable."

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board criticized the show, stating that it lacked important information that could have informed viewers about the facts surrounding bovine TB.

According to the NHS, a stroke is a severe and potentially deadly medical issue that occurs when the blood flow to a portion of the brain is blocked.

One indication is typically when the individual experiences weakness or numbness in a single arm, along with one side of their face seeming to sag, and their speech becoming unclear or muddled.

There is another condition that is connected to this called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). In this condition, there is a temporary interruption in the blood flow to the brain, leading to what is commonly known as a "mini-stroke".

Learn more about identifying the signs of a stroke by visiting the NHS website.

May experienced a stroke four years after having a minor heart attack.

He was surprised to learn that he was not as healthy as he believed, and he was close to dying.

He found out that three of his arteries were clogged and at risk of blocking blood flow to his heart. As a result, he underwent a procedure to insert three stents - small tubes used to keep blocked arteries open.

May's skills on the guitar, writing songs, and singing were major factors in making Queen one of the most popular bands globally during the 1970s and 80s.

He composed popular songs like We Will Rock You, Who Wants to Live Forever, and Flash, as well as collaborating on additional tracks.

Following the passing of lead singer Freddie Mercury in 1991, the band has carried on with the addition of vocalist Adam Lambert.

In addition to his music career, May is recognized for his efforts in advocating for animal rights. He also achieved a Doctorate in astrophysics in 2007, more than three decades after he gave up on his thesis due to the band's success.

He is in a marital relationship with Anita Dobson, who is a former actress from EastEnders.