A lot of famous stars have come forward with their symptoms including Bella Hadid and Kelly Osbourne
A number of household names have reported being diagnosed with a particular bacterial infection, and one expert has weighed in on the reasons why so many celebs seem to have it.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, recent estimates suggest that approximately 476,000 people may be diagnosed and treated for the disease each year in the US alone.
One of the latest celebrities to share their diagnosis is Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, and it’s left many wondering: why on earth are so many celebrities being diagnosed with the same thing?
Ohanian joins a bunch of other major celebs who also have had the disease including the likes of; Yolanda Hadid, Bella Hadid, Justin Bieber, Ben Stiller, Amy Schumer, Shania Twain, Alec Baldwin, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Osbourne and Riley Keough.
What are the symptoms of this disease? (NHS)
Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia, has since explained what factors could make those in the spotlight more vulnerable to catching the infection known as Lyme disease.
What is Lyme disease?
According to the NHS, Lyme disease is a ‘bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks’. The disease refers to the symptoms and health problems that develop as a result of the infection.
It’s usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early with one of the main early symptoms being a ‘circular or oval shape rash’ forming around a tick bite.
Some people also get flu-like symptoms several days or weeks after they were bitten by an infected tick, such as:
- A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Tiredness and loss of energy
Why do so many celebrities get diagnosed with Lyme disease?
Professor Hunter spoke to MailOnline and suggested that A-listers’ increased leisure time and greater access to wilder outdoor areas where ticks reside, than normal people, could simply make it a numbers game.
“If there is a rich and famous or class bias in this, it’s probably because they spend more time walking around in wooded parkland, more money to go out to those areas, or have big homes with these sorts of places,” he added.
Bella Hadid revealed she was diagnosed with Lyme disease (Instagram/@bellahadid)
Also, a lot of these celebs likely live across the pond in the US where Lyme disease is known for being quite prevalent.
The expert continued: “As you’re walking along the ticks jump on your legs and crawl their way up… have a blood feast and give you Lyme disease.”
He went on: “If you go walking in these sorts of places the best thing to do is check, when you get home, that you don’t have any ticks on you and if you have remove them safely.”
How to spot and remove ticks
This is the rash to look for (NHS)
It’s important to note that not all ticks in England carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
With that said, however, it’s still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case.
“Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern and northern England and the Scottish Highlands,” the NHS explains.
Tick bites aren’t always painful so you may not notice a tick unless you see it on your skin.
If you do find you’ve been targeted by a tick, you can safely remove it by:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it.
- Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.
The NHS assures: “The chance of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell.”
It adds that the majority of people ‘get better after antibiotic treatment’. And while this ‘can take months for some’, ‘the symptoms should improve over time’.Featured Image Credit: Instagram/bellahadid/justinbieber
Rhiannon Ingle
Published 10:27 7 Aug 2024 GMT+1
Daisy Ridley reveals she has been diagnosed with Graves’ disease
The Star Wars alum was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition in September 2023
Daisy Ridley says nobody with health issues should be forced to ‘suffer through it’ as she opened up about her recent Graves’ disease diagnosis.
London-born actor Ridley, 32, rose to prominence in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens as hot-headed protagonist, Ray.
After starring in the sci-fi saga’s subsequent sequels, she has gone on to appear in Sometimes I Think About Dying, The Marsh King’s Daughter and sports biopic Young Woman and the Sea.
Following the triumphant release of the latter, Ridley has revealed she’s recently been diagnosed with Graves’ disease.
Young Woman and the Sea trailer
Credit: Walt Disney Pictures
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What is Graves’ disease?
Graves’ is an autoimmune disorder which can cause overactivity of the thyroid—commonly known as hyperthyroidism.
One in three people with the condition further develop an eye disease called Graves’ ophthalmopathy, while others may experience Graves’ dermopathy, where their skin becomes rough, reddish and thick.
When did Daisy Ridley get diagnosed with Graves’ disease?
Speaking about her experience with Graves’ disease, Ridley told Women’s Health she’d started experiencing hot flashes and fatigue after working on the psychological thriller Magpie.
However, she initially put her bout of illness down to her ‘stressful role’.
“I thought, ’Well, I’ve just played a really stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel poorly,’” she explained.
Ridley was encouraged by her general practitioner to see an endocrinologist, to whom she explained that she’d also been suffering from a rising heart rate, irritability and hand tremors.
“It was funny, I was like, ‘Oh, I just thought I was annoyed at the world,’ but turns out everything is functioning so quickly, you can’t chill out,” she said.
Following her Graves’ disease diagnosis in September 2023, Ridley claims she now tries to be ‘more well-being conscious’.
Daisy Ridley opened up about her struggles with Graves’ disease. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for MAGPIE)
How has Daisy Ridley’s life changed since being diagnosed with Graves’ disease?
To combat autoimmune disease symptoms, the actress has begun to integrate infrared saunas, cryotherapy and acupuncture into her wellness routine.
She also revealed she carries around rose quartz with her to promote peace and self-love.
“I do a fair amount of the holistic stuff, but I also understand that it is a privilege to be able to do those things,” the Chaos Walking star continued.
“In the grand scheme of things, it’s much less severe than what a lot of people go through.
“Even if you can deal with it, you shouldn’t have to. If there’s a problem, you shouldn’t have to just [suffer through it].”
The actor also suffers with PCOS and endometriosis. (Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)
Does Daisy Ridley have any existing health conditions?
Prior to revealing her Graves’ disease diagnosis, Ridley announced she’d been diagnosed with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Mayo Clinic states that PCOS is a hormone imbalance causing irregular periods, while endometriosis is a painful condition caused by tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus growing outside the uterus.
She was informed of her endometriosis diagnosis in her teens and PCOS in her 20s.Featured Image Credit: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for MAGPIE/Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Topics: Celebrity, Health, TV And Film, Mental Health
