Heavy D was a connector. He was cool with the hardcore gangsters and the elite. Many artists, like Will Smith, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and more claim that he was the one that got them their break. He had also performed at the Michael Jackson tribute concert on Oct. 8 in Cardiff, Wales.
So it's no wonder that the entire music community took it hard when he died in 2011.
Jamaican-born American rapper, record producer, singer, actor, and the former leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, was loved by many all over the world.
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Heavy penned hits like "Somebody for Me," "Black Coffee" and more. The Overweight Lover as he was called was smooth on the mic and even credited with bringing Usher to Puffy Combs for his first album.
Fans often quoted his word and tongue play term he used to use, "My diddly-diddly-diddly-D."
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed that Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers, died after suffering from a deep vein thrombosis, in which a blood clot in the leg traveled to his lung and blocked a main artery, resulting in the pulmonary embolism.
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The condition is often associated with flying, and shortly before he passed away the "overweight lover" had reportedly seen a doctor for a persistent cough he developed after a recent trip to London.
Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis
A DVT usually forms in the veins of your legs or arms. Up to 30%of people with a DVT don’t have symptoms, but sometimes the symptoms are very mild and may not raise concern. The symptoms associated with an acute DVT include:
- Swelling of your leg or arm (sometimes this happens suddenly).
- Pain or tenderness in your leg or arm (may only happen when standing or walking).
- The area of your leg or arm that’s swollen or hurts may be warmer than usual.
- Skin that’s red or discolored.
- The veins near your skin’s surface may be larger than normal.
- Abdominal pain or flank pain (when blood clots affect the veins deep inside your abdomen).
- Severe headache (usually of sudden onset) and/or seizures (when blood clots affect the veins of your brain).
Some people don’t know they have a DVT until the clot moves from their leg or arm and travels to their lung. Symptoms of acute PE include chest pain, shortness of breath, cough with blood, lightheadedness and fainting.
How common is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Each year, approximately 1 to 3 in every 1,000 adults develop a DVT or pulmonary embolism in the United States, and up to 300,000 people die each year as a result of DVT/PE. It’s the third most common vascular disease, behind heart attacks and strokes. Acute DVT/PE can occur at any age, but are less common in children and adolescents and more common in those over the age of 60. More than half of all DVTs happen as a result of being in the hospital from a medical illness or following surgery. The reason why DVTs are more common after a hospital stay is because you’re lying in bed most of the time instead of moving around like you normally would.
To prevent DVT, here's three common things to consider:
1.) Avoid sitting still. If you've had surgery or have been on bed rest for other reasons, try to get moving as soon as possible. If you're sitting for a while, try not to cross your legs because this can limit blood flow. If you're traveling a long distance by car,...
... stop every hour or so and walk around.
2.) If you're on a plane, try to stand or walk occasionally. If you can't do that, at least try to exercise your lower legs.
Try raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor, then raising your toes while your heels are on the floor.
3.) Make lifestyle changes. Lose weight and quit smoking. Obesity and smoking increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Get regular exercise. Exercise lowers your risk of blood clots, which is especially important for people who have to sit a lot or travel frequently.
How Heavy D's Legacy is Living On Today
According to Spiritual World's IG page, Heavy D's daughter Xea Myers has inherited his estate. "Xea intends to make use of this property in various ways," the post says. "The ultimate objective is to revive the reputation of Heavy D, a highly esteemed rapper who greatly influenced many others in the industry."
The post also announced the formation of a new multimedia company to be launched in Heavy D's honor. "Xea is proud to announce the opening of her new multimedia company, 'HEV', in honor of her late father. His art and talent have had a profound impact on countless individuals, inspiring her to create opportunities for others to experience the same."
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