Actress Tamala Jones Urges Fans To Listen To Their Body After Recounting A Life-Threatening Brain Aneurysm

Brain aneurysm, defined

According to Cleveland Clinic, a brain aneurysm is described as a bump located "in a weak area of a blood vessel" inside or near the brain. The academic medical center also stated that although a majority of aneurysms are small and often don't create any problems if it were to burst, it could be "life-threatening."

Although the exact cause of brain aneurysms could vary, ranging from genetics to underlying health issues, statistics show that it usually occurs more in women than men around 30 to 60 years old. The factors that can cause a brain aneurysm to rupture include stress, high blood pressure, and strenuous work.

Jones' interview on Tamron Hall Show

While talking to Hall, Jones shared that she was born with a brain aneurysm, and the only time she noticed the symptoms was 26 years ago when she had a headache for "two weeks straight."

"I was born with it. I wasn't expecting that, and no one else was. It was a headache that happened for two weeks straight. I was taking all the sinus medicine and Tylenol. [I] probably should of took an aspirin, and it kept going," Jones said while describing the intensity of the signs and the medication she took to try to alleviate the discomfort.

Jones would go on to say that one day everything changed when she realized she had limited mobility on the right side of her body and a lack of balance.

How Tamala Jones Reclaimed Her Acting Career After A Life-Changing Brain Aneurysm

"One morning, I woke up; I didn't have any balance. I felt like I had to urinate really bad, and I stumbled to the toilet nothing came out,” she continued. “My head started hurting really bad, and then I hit the floor. When I got up, the right side of my body was numb.”

Jones disclosed that the scary event occurred when she was scheduled to film an episode for the fourth season of the hit sitcom For Your Love. After alerting her boss about what happened, Jones was asked to come to set anyway and complete her final day with medical supervision.

"I got in the car, not realizing that this was done. My right foot was so heavy. I had to put my left foot on the brake and manually move this off the gas pedal. I drove to work, left foot, left hand," Jones said while demonstrating to the audience how she was driving her car.

Jones worked the entire day despite her right arm being positioned at a 90-degree angle. The 35 and Ticking actress stated that production tried hiding her condition by adding props like purses and jackets on her arm whenever she was on camera. She would go on to elaborate that no one on set knew the exact details of what happened.

After finally going to the hospital, the Booty Call star recounted how shocked her doctor was that she was even alive.

"I got to the hospital, and the doctor was like, 'I am in awe that you're alive. Let alone work a whole day," she recalled.

Jones' current projects

Following the experience, one of the critical messages Jones took away from her health scare was to "listen" to one's body. Jones claimed that after taking some time away from the entertainment industry to take care of herself, she "feels great" to be alive and do what she enjoys the most, which is acting.

“I feel great. I’m alive. I’m still able to do what I love to do. I love this business. I love what we do. I love acting,” she said.

Since then, Jones has returned to acting and is currently starring in a Lifetime film, Every Breath She Takes, alongside Jackée Harry and Brian J. White. In addition to the Lifetime project, Jones has also filmed an episode of the series rendition of the 1999 hit film The Wood.

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