Everyone has their secrets, and even though it may not seem like it, celebrities are just normal people at the end of the day. They suffer from daily challenges and health ailments just like everyone else. Since most of their lives are so exposed to the general public, sometimes they do not want to share the more difficult details, such as various health conditions. They end up hiding their diseases and health issues from the world to maintain a semblance of privacy. Whether you are also suffering from health issues or you're just curious about the lives of celebrities, this list will be both surprising and eye-opening.
Bella Hadid and Lyme Disease
Bella Hadid is one of the most famous models in the world, but a less famous fact about her is that she suffers from Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that can cause a whole slew of symptoms. It really affects a person's everyday life and ability to function properly. Most people wouldn't think that Bella Hadid was struggling with joint pain, headaches, and fatigue as she does her cat walk.
Looks can be very deceiving. Celebrities often make it seem like everything is fine on the outside when they are actually struggling (just like everyday folk) on the regular.
Lady Gaga and Fibromyalgia
Lady Gaga is famous for a whole slew of things, from meat dresses to risque songs and videos. However, fibromyalgia is probably not one of the first things that come to mind when you hear her name. Regardless, she has been struggling with fibromyalgia for years and has even had to cancel some of her European tours as a result of the extreme pain she experiences as a result of this disease.
Luckily Lady Gaga has been able to mostly get control over this disease and not let it affect her daily life too much.
Nick Jonas and Type 1 Diabetes
Over 10% of US citizens are diagnosed with diabetes, combining all the different types. Nick Jonas is one of the over 34 million people who struggle with it daily. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was only 13 years old. The diagnosis affected his everyday life and left him feeling separate and isolated from the rest of the world. He had to constantly maintain his blood sugar levels with insulin shots.
Nick has almost always shared about his struggles with diabetes and has even created support groups and organizations to help people with Type 1 diabetes to research the condition and find solutions.
Sarah Hyland and Kidney Dysplasia
Sarah Hyland was suffering for many years with health conditions that many doctors simply ignored or did not take seriously. This can be frustrating (to say the least) when you have to explain over and over again your symptoms and issues and find no solutions. Sarah suffered from kidney dysplasia which happens when a fetus' kidney does not develop properly in the womb. As a result, she had to get two kidney transplants.
Her body rejected the first kidney transplant she received causing her to attempt a second one. Luckily the second one took and her health has been improving ever since.
Justin Bieber and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
There is no shortage of syndromes and ailments with mysterious symptoms and confusing causes. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is just one on the seemingly endless list. Although it is very rare, the famous star Justin Bieber has recently commonized the word as he told the world that he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome which caused paralysis on one side of his face. No one knows if the paralysis will be permanent or temporary.
Justin has taken a break from the spotlight to focus on treatment and recovery and everyone is hoping that he will soon see great improvement and a reversal of the partial face paralysis.
Venus Williams and Sjögren’s Syndrome
Sometimes it's hard to imagine that famous sports players are also suffering from health conditions even as they do competitive sports. Venus Williams has been suffering from Sjögren’s syndrome for years which has left her with joint pain, dry mouth, and fatigue. Sometimes it could be so extreme that she would wake up feeling that she had the flu and still had to continue throughout the day and her sports games.
It's incredible to think that she was able to overcome Sjögren’s syndrome and still be one of the top tennis players despite feeling fatigued and exhausted in her day to day.
Kim Kardashian and Psoriasis
Kim Kardashian is one of the top beauty icons in the world. Countless people around the world also followed the entire Kardashian family on their reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians to learn about their way of life (and probably get some beauty tips). Who would have thought that Kim would be suffering from psoriasis the entire time? Psoriasis causes painful and itchy patches of red skin to appear throughout the body.
Luckily Kim has been able to find a good treatment that keeps her skin in check and prevents the worst sides of psoriasis, but it is a condition that she has had to learn how to deal with.
Shania Twain and Lyme Disease
Bella Hadid isn't the only celebrity suffering from Lyme disease and it seems to be more common than you might have thought. Shania Twain has been batling Lyme disease for years and it almost cost her her career. Can you imagine what life would be like without the famous tune "Man I Feel Like a Woman"? Lyme disease almost caused Shania to lose her voice entirely when she developed dysphonia.
She was lucky enough to be able to find some treatments and therapies that helped to prevent her from losing her voice entirely. Now she has an extensive warm-up and physical voice therapy to keep her vocal cords in shape.
Frankie Muniz and Multiple Strokes
Having a stroke is a pretty terrifying and often life-changing event. However, for Frankie Muniz, it's unfortunatley a fairly common event. He had his first stroke in 2012 and although it was a mini-stroke and essentially harmless to his body, he had no idea that he would have at least 15 more of the like in the coming years. He has done countless tests to try to find the cause or a solution, to no avail.
Frankie has at least reconciled with and accepted the fact that he will probably just live with this baffling condition for the rest of his life, and there isn't much that anyone can do about it.
Mariah Carey and Bipolar Disorder
Everyone has their secrets, even stars as big and famous as Mariah Carey. There is hardly a person in the world that is not familiar with Mariah Carey and her long list of classic songs. What you are probably less familiar with is the fact that she struggles with bipolar disorder. She tries to keep her personal life as secretive as possible from her fans but chose to open up about this diagnosis.
Keeping this a secret helped her stay in denial for a long period of time, but now that she has shared the truth with the world, she feels much more free and able to manage it.
Bruce Willis and Aphasia
Best known for his role in Die Hard, Bruce Willis is a beloved actor and a household name. In recent years, he has started to struggle with his health and was diagnosed with a brain condition called Aphasia. This condition affects your cognitive abilities and your ability to communicate properly. As a result, Bruce has had to stop his acting career as his condition was putting him and others in dangerous situations.
Everyone realized something needed to change when Bruce accidentally fired a loaded gun while on set as he was not fully aware of what was going on.
Halsey and Endometriosis
For years, Halsey thought that she was simply unable to process pain well or exaggerating the amount of pain that she felt on a regular basis. However, after getting some tests done, it was found out that she was actually suffering from endometriosis, a condition that can cause extreme pain in the lower abdomen and back. After finding out her diagnosis, she made no effort to keep it a secret and shared the news with all of her fans.
She thinks that by sharing her challenges in life, it will make others feel less alone in their struggles. All the women who also have endometriosis can see that there are others struggling as well.
George Clooney and Chronic Pain and Headaches
It is not very common that people can pinpoint an exact moment that changed their lives forever. George Clooney, however, can do exactly that. While he was filming a scene for the movie Syriana he fell back in his chair and hit his head, cutting it. What seemed like a little, harmless accident accidentally caused him to tear a layer of his outer spine which ended up leaking fluid.
This injury forced George to get surgery to repair his spine, but the issues didn't end there. He has suffered from chronic headaches and pain ever since.
Halle Berry and Type 1 Diabetes
Nick Jonas isn't the only one on this list who struggles with Type 1 diabetes. Halle Berry was diagnosed with diabetes when she was only 19 years old. It took an entire lifestyle and mindset change over the course of a few years for her to adjust her way of life to be more suitable for her newly discovered condition. She has done everything possible to not allow the disease to prevent her from experiencing life and creating a fulfilling career.
Things got so bad for Halle that at one point she fell into a diabetic coma while filming on set. She realized then that she needed to change her way of life.
Bono and Glaucoma
Did you ever stop to consider why Bono is always seen wearing dark sunglasses? Although you probably thought, like most other celebrities with signature looks, that it was just for a statement and a memorable appearance. However, that is not the case. He actually has glaucoma, an eye condition that causes the eyes to be extremely sensitive to light. Without the sunglasses, Bono would not be able to open his eyes painlessly in any lit place.
At least he has managed to find a fashionable solution to his issues that has also given him a signature and timeless look.
Jack Osbourne and Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is a terrifying and debilitating disease. Jack Osbourne, who was made famous on his family's reality show, was diagnosed with MS in 2012 after trying to figure out why he started losing sight in one eye. After countless tests, he learned that it was because he was suffering from MS. There are countless other symptoms that can be traced back to MS, but fortunately they were able to catch his quickly and diagnose it.
Luckily for Jack, they were able to prescribe a treatment that would restore the sight in one eye and prevent other symptoms such as loss of speech and movement.
Lil Wayne and Epilepsy
You can't always judge a book by its cover. Oftentimes, someone's life may seem perfect from the outside, but everyone has their struggles, even the world-famous rapper Lil Wayne. Ever since he was a child, Lil Wayne has been struggling with epilepsy. Throughout the years he has had multiple seizures, sometimes at very inconvenient times, such as on a flight. He has even had to have an emergency landing as a result of his seizure.
One of the main factors that trigger a seizure is stress, so at least Lil Wayne can do whatever he can to prevent stress and hopefully prevent seizures as well.
Tom Hanks and Type 2 Diabetes
Many health conditions are unpreventable, but others, like type 2 diabetes, are a reflection of poor lifestyle choices that led to various health issues. Tom Hanks was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes later in life and he believes that it is a direct result of his poor health choices throughout his life. He did not take preventative measures at the onset of symptoms either, leading to worse and more severe symptoms.
It's never too late! Tom Hanks is living proof that if you change your life around, you can make significant improvements to your health and wellbeing.
Morgan Freeman and Fibromyalgia
Not everyone is able to maintain a positive outlook in the face of health issues. They can be overwhelming and it can be discouraging to have to change your way and pace of life. However, Morgan Freeman chose to keep a positive outlook when he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Instead of looking at everything he could no longer do, like horseback riding and sailing, he chose to find new hobbies that he could do.
As a result of his fibromyalgia, Morgan Freeman started to learn how to play golf, a sport he really took a liking to and learned to enjoy more and more throughout the years. He never would have learned to play if he wasn't forced to redirect himself.
David Beckham and Asthma
When you think of famous sports players, you often imagine them to be prime examples of health. How else, after all, were they able to be so successful in the physical fitness realm? Well, although they are certainly overall quite healthy (most of the time), many famous players suffer from hidden health issues. Who would have thought that David Beckham, one of the world's most famous soccer players actually suffers from asthma?
David Beckham kept his asthma a secret for most of his career until a paparazzi captured a picture of him using an inhaler, sharing his illness with the world.
Dan Reynolds and Ankylosing Spondylitis
If you aren't familiar with the name Dan Reynolds, you are almost certainly familiar with the name Imagine Dragons. Dan is the frontman of the famous pop-rock band who has been living with a secret for many years. only his wife and his fellow band members knew that he was suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune disease that causes intense pain in the back, pelvis, legs, and so much more.
Dan went from secretly canceling shows as a result of his condition to sharing his story with the world. Instead of being embarrassed by the fact that he had an autoimmune disease, he shared how he overcomes it to help other people.
Sia and Graves’ Disease
Despite being famous, some celebrities like to keep as much of their personal lives private as possible. Sia is one of those celebrities and the general public does not know too much about her personal life. However, she changed that when she shared with everyone that she suffers from Graves’ disease, which causes her to have uncontrollably shaking hands and overall general nervousness. It can also have an effect on mental health (as with all diseases).
The complicated thing with Graves’ disease is that each person's body responds to it differently and everyone can have a different set of symptoms, making it very difficult to treat.
Julianne Hough and Endometriosis
Endometriosis is much more common than many people think. Symptoms can come and go and include pain in the lower abdomen and back and extreme pain during menstrual cycles. Although Julianne Hough initially tried to keep it a secret that she suffered from Endometriosis, she eventually decided that sharing this with the world would be more beneficial and could actually help other women who are also suffering from this confusing condition.
Most people know Julian as a very talented dancer who appeared on Dancing with the Stars, but now people also see her as a spokesperson for the many women with endometriosis.
Will. I. Am and ADHD
ADHD may be a phrase that is commonly and oftentimes overly used in everyday slang. However, it is a true medical condition that people suffer from and struggle with all around the world. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can make it very difficult to accomplish anything in life due to a lack of ability to concentrate and focus for long periods of time. This can affect careers and personal lives as was the case for Will.I.Am.
Will.I.Am found that music really helped him to get control over his ADHD and manage it in everyday life. It is his coping mechanism that also helps him in his career.
Mick Mars and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Have you ever heard of ankylosing spondylitis? It is not the most commonly known condition, but it is a type of arthritis. Mick Mars, the lead guitarist in the band The Motley Crüe, has been struggling with it for years. Although it has not affected his everyday life to the extent of other potential diseases, it is a general and consistent inconvenience that causes daily pain in his hips.
Fortunately, Mick has decided to look at the entire situation positively and knows that it could be a lot worse. At least he isn't a dancer and dependant on his hips for his career.
Pete Davidson and Crohn’s Disease
No one likes to talk about their ailments, especially when they are focused on the digestive side of things. However, if anyone can be comfortable talking about it, it would be a comedian. And if there was any comedian who would be even more perfect, it would be Pete Davidson. He opened up about having Crohn’s disease since he was a teenager, an illness that causes intense stomach pain and disrupted digestion.
Pete found no real solutions for the disease with conventional medicine, so he eneded up turning to alternative medicine which has changed his life and his condition entirely, siginifcantly easing the symptoms.
Selena Gomez and Lupus
It can take a lot of courage for a celebrity to share their struggles and ailments with the world. After all, there are millions of people watching them. That did not prevent Selena Gomez from sharing with everyone when she was diagnosed with Lupus. Lupus is an inflammatory disease that causes your immune system to essentially attack itself. The symptoms have a wide range across different people and it's hard to track.
Using her platform of fame, Selena Gomez even made an appearance at the Lupus Research Alliance’s Breaking Through Gala, making a speech about hopeful days in the future when there will be a cure.
Missy Elliott and Graves’ Disease
Missy Elliott may be most famous for being a beloved American rapper, but she is also known for coming out about having Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease is when your thyroid is attacked by your entire body leading to dizzy spells, mood swings, and an elevated heart rate. Some people even see their motor skills affected by the condition. She has shared her treatments and struggles with the world as she tried to find a solution.
After trying multiple different treatments, Missy has found that the perfect combination of diet and exercise has actually allowed her to maintain control over the disease and her life.
Michael J. Fox and Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes shaking, stiffness, and general uncontrollable movements. People diagnosed with this condition can also have balance issues and tremors. Michael J. Fox was only 29 years old when he was able to be diagnosed with this disease and explain his odd symptoms. He used his diagnosis as a stimulus to create foundations for Parkinson's research to help other people in the future have some sort of solution or cure.
It is always great to see people who do not let their conditions stop them from living their best life, but rather continue on to the fullest whenever possible and also help others in the process.
Wendy Williams and Graves' Disease
The talk show host Wendy Williams was not shy about her various health conditions and her journey of finding out exactly the issues and the root causes. She even shared that she was taking a three-week break (minimum) from all work to focus on her health and healing. She was able to find out during this time that she has Graves' disease and she was also able to focus on how to treat it.
Graves' disease can be very difficult to diagnose due to the extensive amount of tests a person needs to take, and also the confusing and extensive list of symptoms.
Michael Phelps and ADHD
Many children are diagnosed with ADHD, which often causes issues in school due to the lack of ability to concentrate properly. Michael Phelps was one of the many children who were forced to navigate life with ADHD. Luckily he was able to find support in the form of doctors who were able to channel his energy elsewhere...into swimming. Who would have thought that this switch in focus could lead to such an amazing career?
Just a few years (and countless training later), Michael Phelps would go on to win a record amount of gold medals in swimming at the Olympics. ADHD didn't stop him!
Selma Blair and Multiple Sclerosis
Perhaps the most difficult part of health issues is that you can no longer live your life the way that you are used to living it. Selma Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (also known as MS) which left her with a slew of symptoms. These symptoms were so difficult for her to manage that she ended up just disappearing from the spotlight to focus on finding solutions for her health.
Although fans were left confused about her disappearance, she returned to the spotlight explaining her absence, her symptoms, and fashionably rocking the cane she now needs to help her navigate around.
Pink and Asthma
Some people are determined not to let their health issues prevent them from continuing with their goals and dreams. Pink is just one of those people. Although you probably can understand how difficult it would be to sing and dance while struggling with asthma, Pink has managed to find a way to make it work. She has daily exercises to keep her breaths in shape and able to endure long performances.
She was not going to let asthma stop her from achieving her goals and having the world miss out on all the amazing music she has to offer.
Carrie Ann Inaba and Sjogren's Syndrome
Carrie Ann Inaba is a well-known dancer, choreographer, actress, and singer who is most famous for judging the popular show Dancing with the Stars. In the background of all that fame, she is also suffering from Sjogren's syndrome. Sjogren's syndrome is a condition that causes dry eyes, dry mouth, joint pain, and fatigue, among others. Her extreme fatigue often prevented her from successfully doing the most basic, everyday activities
Carrie has found that a combination of reiki, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, yoga, and pilates have been the most helpful on her healing journey.
Gina Rodriguez and Hashimoto's Disease
Being diagnosed with something like Hashimoto's disease at the young age of 26 can be both terrifying and eye-opening. Gina Rodriguez, the star of the show Jane the Virgin, experienced exactly this after struggling with uncontrollable weight gain and memory issues for a long time. The diagnosis was both terrifying and comforting because at least now she could change her lifestyle in a way that would help to improve her condition.
With the help of some medications, a serious change in her diet, and also more physical activity, Gina has been able to take control of her disease and manage it in a good way.
Gabrielle Union and Adenomyosis
Most people have probably not heard of adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is a condition where endometrial tissue grows into the uterine wall. This can cause fertility issues and general discomfort and pain. Gabrielle Union wanted to share her experience with the world so that people would understand that fertility issues are not only for older people but also for young people who seem to be in perfect health. Everyone needs to understand the struggles.
Gabrielle experienced at least seven or eight miscarriages in attempts to get pregnant despite the adenomyosis. Now she is undergoing IVF in a continued attempt to overcome her condition.
Yolanda Hadid and Lyme Disease
It looks like the Hadid family is suffering from a disproportionately high number of ailments compared to most other famous families. Both Bella Hadid and her mother Yolanda Hadid both suffer from Lyme disease while Gigi Hadid suffers from Hashimoto's disease. She has shared on her blog and social media about the struggle of dealing with a chronic illness. She explains how the disease even affected her brain and her ability to process information.
Lyme disease is caused by a tick bite. If it is treated early enough (within a few days of the bite), the worst symptoms can usually be prevented. However, ticks are so small that people often do not even notice the bite and are confused when symptoms appear.
Daisy Ridley and Endometriosis and PC)S
Daisy Ridley is most well known for her role in Star Wars and less well known for coming out to the world about struggling with multiple health issues. She was diagnosed with both endometriosis and PCOS (also known as polycystic ovary syndrome). Each of these conditions alone is difficult to deal with, but combined things get even more complicated. Imagine extreme pain combined with a terrible hormone imbalance. Terrible combination.
One of the most challenging parts of health issues is the struggle of finding the correct treatments. It can be a seemingly neverending journey to find something that works.
Gigi Hadid and Hashimoto's Disease
Modeling is not always as glamorous of a career as it is made out to be. There is so much scrutiny on how someone looks that if the littlest thing changes in your body or your face, your entire career could be ruined. Gigi Hadid, one of the world's most famous models, heard countless comments that her body had changed to be "too big for the industry" and similar things.
What people did not know is that she was actually suffering from Hashimoto's disease, which causes inflammation and water retention in the body. She didn't just "gain weight" as most people were assuming.
Sasha Pieterse and PCOS
It can be very difficult sometimes to figure out what exactly is causing the multitude of symptoms making it difficult for you to function in everyday life. Countless tests need to be done before you are able to pinpoint the cause. Sasha Pieterse was struggling with irregular periods, difficulties gaining and losing weight, and so much more before she figured out that it was PCOS, a hormone imbalance also known as polycystic ovary syndrome.
Fortunately, once she was able to pinpoint the cause of all of her strange symptoms, she was able to get treatments and solutions that would change her life for the better.
Christina Applegate and MS
Christina Applegate was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis recently, in 2021, while filming the final season of her Netflix show "Dead To Me". She said she missed some early warning signs, like her tennis game slipping because she felt off balance, but just chalked it up to not practicing enough. Many experts say that it can be difficult to recognize these early symptoms of the disease because things like fatigue and anxiety can be associated with so many other factors.
She made her first public appearance after her diagnosis when unveiling her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She bravely tweeted about her condition and showed off her collection of stylish canes she now uses on a daily basis.