St Kitts and Nevis PM says neck massages preceded stroke
Key Points(5)
- Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, says the stroke he suffered in August, which required emergency medical treatment in the United States, occurred after he received several neck massages while on vacation.
- Drew, 49, a medical practitioner, said the stroke resulted from a vertebral artery dissection, a tear in an artery that supplies blood to the back of the brain.
- He recalled becoming concerned after experiencing prolonged dizziness and difficulty maintaining his balance.
- He dismissed suggestions that the stroke was linked to stress or underlying health conditions, noting that he maintains a healthy lifestyle.
- Shake-up ahead for underperforming hospital management News, Western Shake-up ahead for underperforming hospital management October 25, 2026 “I have a stressful job, but I’m not stressed out,” he said, adding that his blood pressure was 110 over 70 when examined.
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew says a tear in an artery supplying blood to his brain, which he believes occurred during neck massages while on vacation, caused the stroke that required emergency medical treatment in the United States in August.
Drew, 49, a physician, disclosed details of the medical emergency during a National Thanksgiving Service at National Heroes Park on Sunday, a day after returning to the twin-island federation. He is scheduled to officially resume his duties on Monday.
The prime minister said he became concerned after experiencing prolonged dizziness and difficulty maintaining his balance. He contacted several medical colleagues, including a neurosurgeon, to discuss his symptoms.
Drew said doctors determined that he had suffered a vertebral artery dissection, a tear in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the back of the brain.
He attributed the injury to several massages he received while on vacation the week before the incident, during which his neck was manipulated.
“When I was on vacation, just the week before, I went for a number of massages, and they massaged my neck and moved my neck too much, and it tore the left vertebral artery,” he said.
Drew said the injury disrupted blood flow to part of his brain, resulting in a stroke.
“This one was because of the massage and my neck. They went too deep and twisted my neck a bit, and it nipped the artery called the vertebral artery,” he said.
The prime minister also explained that his left vertebral artery was naturally narrower than the right, which he believes helped the right artery compensate for reduced blood flow.
Drew rejected suggestions that stress or underlying health conditions contributed to the stroke, saying he exercises regularly, eats well and has no history of hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol.
“I have a stressful job, but I'm not stressed out,” he said, adding that his blood pressure measured 110 over 70 when he was examined.
Drew said he was discharged from the US hospital where he received treatment after being given a clean bill of health and subsequently returned to St Kitts and Nevis.
He also thanked members of the public for their prayers and messages of support during his recovery.
“From the depths of my soul, thank you. Thank you for every prayer whispered in the quiet of the night. Thank you for every message, every call, every kind word,” he said. “I felt your love and care. I felt your faith. And I believe, I truly believe, that it helped to carry me through.”
