They may be beautiful, rich and famous, but celebrities are human too, and that means they’re just as prone to getting sick as the rest of us. And just like us, some celebs even live with chronic conditions that can take a toll on their day-to-day lives.They have entertained us on and off the screen. But the problems they go through are something we are unknown too. It is not easy doing what they do and also deal with ulterior pressures at the same time. So, in addition to spa treatments and relaxing getaways, celebrities also take time out of their busy schedules to be poked and prodded by doctors. And while their assistants may pick up their prescriptions, they still need to make sure to take their meds.
Though being diagnosed with a condition is always unfortunate, a celebrity’s illness can sometimes offer a silver lining to others with the condition by helping to raise awareness of the disease.
Take, for example, Angelina Jolie‘s 2013 announcement in The New York Times that she had undergone a double mastectomy after learning that she carried a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, which increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Researchers dubbed the increase in awareness of the role of genetics in breast cancer “The Angelina Effect.”
Here are such celebrities with chronic illnesses and how they live with them.
Selena Gomez: Lupus
Pop star Selena Gomez canceled her 2013 tour when she was diagnosed with lupus. After her diagnosis, Gomez underwent a round of treatment and took a break from the public eye, she told Billboard magazine in 2015.The chronic autoimmune disease is much more common in women than in men and is typically diagnosed when women are of childbearing age. When a person has lupus, the body attacks its own cells as if they were harmful invaders, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. This can cause symptoms throughout the body, ranging from skin rashes and mouth ulcers to kidney problems and inflammation of various organs.
There is no cure for lupus, but there are treatments, such as corticosteroids and monoclonal antibodies, to help people with the condition manage their symptoms. For people with more serious forms of the disease, drugs that were developed to treat cancer may be used. Other celebs, such as Nick Cannon, Lady Gaga, Toni Braxton and Seal, also have lupus.
Yuvraj Singh: Stage 1 Cancer
While playing the World Cup in 2011, in which he won the Player of the Tournament award, Yuvraj had bouts of blood vomiting, nausea and breathing issues. After the tournament, he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his left lung (stage 1) and underwent chemotherapy in the USA. In March 2012, he returned to India and was even part of the 2012 T20 World Cup after recovery.
Mumtaz: Breast Cancer
The veteran beauty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 when she was 54-years-old. 6 chemotherapies and 35 radiations later, she managed to hold and was quoted telling Bangalore times: “I don’t give up easily. Even death will have to fight me.” She followed a tight regime to get back in shape and can still turn heads with her charm.
Saif Ali Khan: Heart Attack
In February 2007, Saif Ali Khan was rushed to Lilavati Hospital after he complained of chest pains. Doctors confirmed that it was a minor heart attack. But the Nawab certainly owned the situation and fought out of it. His heart trouble is hereditary.
Tom Hanks: Diabetes
Actor Tom Hanks announced that he has type 2 diabetes during an interview on the “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2013. Hanks said he had been dealing with high blood sugar levels for years when his doctor told him they were high enough to meet the criteria for diabetes, he told Letterman. (When a person’s blood sugar levels are elevated but not high enough to be considered diabetes, they have what is known as “prediabetes.”) When a person has diabetes, the body cannot effectively control its blood sugar levels. Diabetes can increase a person’s risk for heart disease and, if unmanaged, can cause serious problems, including nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure. A 2015 study from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases found that about half of American adults have either diabetes or prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be managed with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Actress Halle Berry and celebrity chef Paula Deen also have announced that they have diabetes.
Rajnikanth: Allergic Bronchitis and Viral Fever
The Tamil superstar was admitted to the ICU 4 years ago in 2011 when he was 61. He suffered from exhaustion and had to be flown to Singapore for treatment. But the South Indian star brushed aside the problem like he does the villains in his movies.
The Krrish star acted like a real superhero in 2013 after being treated for a brain clot on July 7th. A month later at the launch of Krrish 3, Hrithik said, “I am absolutely fantastic. Even with the hole in my brain, my spirit is intact.” That statement is enough to prove his mettle.
Anurag Basu: Blood Cancer
The Barfi director may have never even gotten close to making the film when doctors told him that he had only 50% chance of survival in 2004. But like his movies, he called the shots on life as well and fought the disease like a champ. He wrote scripts during his treatment for Life In A Metro and Gangster. He was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia which is type of blood cancer but has soldiered on.
Charlie Sheen: HIV
Actor Charlie Sheen made headlines in 2015 when he announced in an interview with Matt Lauer on the NBC show “Today” that he is HIV positive. Sheen had learned of his diagnosis about four years prior to his announcement, he said. But HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is no longer considered a death sentence as it was decades ago. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1.2 million Americans are currently living with HIV. HIV destroys one type of immune system cell, called T cells, which makes it difficult for people with the virus to fight off infections. When HIV has wiped out a larger percentage of a person’s T cells, he or she is considered to have acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Today, medications known as antiretroviral therapy can help slow the progression of HIV and also protect the body’s immune system, according to the CDC.
And new preventive medications called pre-exposure prophylaxis, which can be taken as a daily pill, have been shown to be highly effective in preventing infection with HIV in people who have a high risk of contracting it.
Manisha Koirala: Ovarian Cancer
On 29th November 2012, it was reported that Manisha had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and underwent surgery on 10th December. The surgery was successful. The Bollywood star gave the performance of her lifetime by battling cancer and coming out on top. She has been cancer free for almost 2 years now.
Amitabh Bachchan: Splenic Rupture and Myasthenia Gravis
After his famous accident, while shooting an action scene for Coolie in July, 1982, he lost a lot of blood. It was reported that his spleen was ruptured. He was pronounced clinically dead but recovered completely after a few months and resumed filming later that year.
In 1984, he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, which made him physically and mentally weak and sent him into depression. It is in remission state. However, he showed why he is a megastar and overcame the odds.
Lisa Ray: Cancer (Multiple Myeloma)
The famous actor and model was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on 23rd June 2009. It is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, a rare disease. In April 2010, Ray announced she was cancer-free but not completely cured. The rare disease is treatable but incurable. But that has not affected the beautiful model’s outlook towards life.
Shahrukh Khan: 8 Surgeries
King Khan can also be called the King of Surgeries. He has had 8 surgeries in 25 years including his ribs, ankle, knee, neck, eye and shoulder. The spotlight still falls on Bollywood’s Baadshah for his outstanding integrity and courage to go on.
Kim Kardashian : Psoriasis
PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 02: Kim Kardashian attends the Balenciaga show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017 on October 2, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
After finding red, flaky patches of skin on her legs in 2011, the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star was diagnosed with psoriasis on an episode of her family’s TV reality show. Her mother, Kris Jenner, also has the disease. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the condition results when the immune system attacks the body’s own cells rather than foreign invaders. The skin disorder appears as raised red patches with thick, silvery scales. About 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.
The disorder, which can range from a mild skin rash to a debilitating condition, can flare up for a few weeks or months, but also subsidies for periods of time. Although psoriasis has been thought of as a skin condition, recent research has suggested that the inflammation associated with psoriasis may be present in other parts of the body, and may impact heart health. Experts think experiencing high levels of stress, taking certain medications, drinking alcohol or smoking can trigger a flare-up. The symptoms of psoriasis are treatable, but there is no cure for the condition.
Honey Singh: Bipolar disorder
It is being reported that Honey Singh is suffering from a condition called Bipolar disorder these days and the doctor told that he wants to stay away from everything. They are being told that Honey has only 2 – 5 people who visit him on a daily basis. In an interview, he opened up about his struggle with bipolar disorder and alcoholism, says he disclosed his issues to his fans and well-wishers because they deserve to know the reason behind his absence from showbiz.
Singh, who is popular for numbers like Angrezi beat, Manali trance, Love dose, and High heels, was away from the spotlight for almost 18 months
