The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association estimates that 1 in every 5 Americans is living with an autoimmune disorder — and these conditions don’t discriminate based on fame, given the number of celebrities who deal with autoimmune disorders every day.
Johns Hopkins Medicine defines an autoimmune disorder as “when the body’s natural defense system can’t tell the difference between your own cells and foreign cells, causing the body to mistakenly attack normal cells.” Of the known autoimmune disorders, type 1 diabetes, lupus, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), psoriasis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis are some of the most common. These conditions disproportionately impact women, who account for nearly 75 percent of cases, according to AARDA.
While most autoimmune disorders are chronic, Mount Sinai notes that they can be managed with treatment, such as immunosuppressive medicines to decrease the immune system’s abnormal response, supplements to replace what the body is lacking (such as insulin for a diabetic), blood transfusions, and physical therapy. Still, it is often difficult for patients to get an accurate diagnosis for these conditions. And when they are diagnosed, learning to live with a chronic health issue can be disorienting and lonely. That’s why more celebrities are speaking out about their experiences with autoimmune disorders.
Venus Williams, who has Sjögren’s syndrome, shared a poignant message to others who live with chronic illness in a 2019 interview with Prevention. “Don’t be discouraged, because what [you’re] going through is similar to other people,” the tennis icon said. “Talk to those people who understand you or have a similar condition, reach out, and build a [support] team. Don’t isolate yourself. Don’t give up.”
From Selma Blair to Gigi Hadid, read on to learn about celebrities who’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and how it has impacted their lives.
This article was originally published on sheknows.com.
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