Chronic Illnesses Cannot Stop THESE Celebrities – Part II

Though any ailment is unfortunate, a celebrity’s illness could be a silver lining, by helping to raise awareness about the disease. Angelina Jolie’s 2013 announcement, about her double mastectomy due to mutation in the BRCA1 gene increasing her risk for breast cancer, enhanced awareness levels about genetics in breast cancer.

Michael J. Fox: Parkinson’s Disease

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Film star Michael J. Fox, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, when only 30 but revealed his diagnosis seven years later. Although regularly having some bad days, he lives with the neurological disorder impairing ability to move and walk, when dopamine produced by neurons in the brain (controlling body movements), begins to break down and die. Symptoms include muscle aches and pains, shaking, balancing problems, difficulty in swallowing, and difficulty managing facial expressions. It is common for persons over 50 with about 50,000 to 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s diagnosed annually in the USA.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Celiac Disease

Former TV host Elisabeth Hasselbeck has struggled with celiac disease for over a decade.  Celiac disease damages small intestine linings, and prevents the body from absorbing nutrients. The damage is caused by the body’s over-reaction to gluten, found in barley, wheat, and rye.  Over 2 million people in USA have this disease, as per experts.  Elisabeth tolerated the painful cramps, indigestion, and diarrhoea for years, despite whatever she ate.  Diagnosed with celiac disease, her symptoms disappeared upon following a severe, restrictive, gluten-free diet, the only treatment for people with this disease.

Montel Williams: Multiple Sclerosis

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Daytime talk-show host Montel Williams announced his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1999, a debilitating disease affecting the brain and spinal cord.  His primary symptom is pain from the shins to his feet, 24 hours every day, for the last 10 years.  About 400,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis, as per experts. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder, with the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue, and no known triggers about the condition. Williams manages the disease with diet control, medication and exercise.

Bret Michaels: Heart Disease

In 2010, Bret, a reality TV star and former lead singer of “Poison”, had a “mini stroke” due to a hole detected in his heart. The transient ischemic attack is caused by a blood clot, as per experts. To repair the hole in Michaels’ heart, a catheter was inserted permanently into a vein in Bret’s groin and guided into his heart to stop the abnormal flow if blood between the two heart chambers. Without starting treatment, Bret could risk developing more clots and suffering another stroke. Annually, around 795,000 Americans suffer from mini strokes, according to experts. In a mini stroke, blockage of blood flow to the brain is temporary, without any permanent brain damage.

Jillian Michaels: PCOS – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

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Celebrity fitness instructor Jillian Michaels has been dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. PCOS occurs due to imbalances in  a woman’s female hormones, effecting her menstrual cycles, the skin, along with tiny cysts in one or both the ovaries and many women experience trouble in becoming pregnant.  Michaels announced her physical ailments after being criticised for mentioning her desire to adopt than subjecting herself to the physical challenges of pregnancy.  Due to her conditions, she may not get pregnant, as reported in 2011.  Michaels manages her ailments by eating organic foods and exercising regularly.