When you think people being affected by health conditions of all kinds, it can be easy to omit celebrities from your thoughts. After all, they seem to have life figured out – fame, money and more.
It can be easy to forget that celebrities are prone to acute and/or chronic bouts of illness, just like everyone else. If you think that nobody famous suffers from the same health issue that you suffer from, you’ll feel less alone after seeing this list…
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that manifests as high blood sugar, lack of insulin and insulin resistance. Long-term consequences can include blindness, kidney failure, and poor circulation leading to amputations.
The cast of stars diagnosed with type 2 diabetes includes actor Tom Hanks, talk show host Larry King, comedian Drew Carey, and actress Halle Berry.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that makes gluten difficult or impossible to digest, forcing sufferers to give up grains such as wheat, rye and barley.
Celebrities suffering from celiac disease include Author Elisabeth Hasselbeck (The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide), Chelsea Clinton, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and actress Jessica Simpson.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the virus of the same name. Although there are often no major symptoms in the early stages, it often leads to various forms of liver disease.
Diagnosed celebrities include actress Pamela Anderson, rocker Lou Reed, singer Natalie Cole, and Aerosmith front-man Steven Tyler.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes patches of skin to become scaly, itchy and red. The extent of skin affected can range from an isolated patch here and there to near-total body coverage.
Famous people suffering from psoriasis include Kim Kardashian, and Grammy Award-winning singer LeAnn Rimes.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is an endocrine system disorder in which the thyroid gland becomes underactive and doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, causing fatigue, weight gain, constipation, depression, and intolerance of cold.
Among the stars who suffer from hypothyroidism are Oprah Winfrey, stage and screen actress Mary-Louise Parker, and country singer-songwriter Linda Ronstdat.
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue in various parts of the body. Symptoms often wax and wane in cycles and can include fatigue, painful joints, hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, mouth ulcers, chest pain and more.
Famous people diagnosed with lupus include singer-songwriter Toni Braxton, pop star Selena Gomez, and entertainer Nick Cannon.
Bipolar Disorder
Formerly known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes alternating periods of depression and mania.
Well-known stars diagnosed with bipolar disorder include Academy Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, singer and actress Demi Lovato, actress Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), and Belgian kickboxer Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer comes in three main forms, including melanoma, basal-cell skin cancer (BCC), and squamous-cell skin cancer (SCC).
Celebrities who have battled skin cancer include Aussie actor Hugh Jackman, actress Diane Keaton, journalist Anderson Cooper, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, and actress Michelle Monaghan.
Depression
Depression consists of experiencing a low mood, which can result in any number of debilitating feelings, including sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, irritability, anger, and shame.
Famous people who’ve struggled with depression include legendary Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, nine-time Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow, and NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw.
Breast Cancer
With the BRCA1 gene mutation giving her an 87% risk of developing breast cancer, Angelina Jolie underwent a voluntary double mastectomy in 2013 to avoid developing breast cancer.
Celebrities who have been diagnosed with breast cancer include singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates, journalist and former Good Morning America co-host Joan Lunden, and singer/actress Rita Wilson.
Asthma
Asthma is an ongoing inflammation of the lungs that can constrict or block airways. Symptoms often include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
Celebrities with asthma include movie director Martin Scorsese, singer-actress Kristin Chenoweth, folk singer Judy Collins, and 42nd President of the US Bill Clinton.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked (ischemic), or there is bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic). Either way, the result is the death of brain cells and an impairment in brain function that results in varying degrees of mobility problems.
Celebrities who have suffered strokes include actress Sharon Stone (subarachnoid hemorrhage), Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Morton, and New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a central nervous system disorder that gives people tremors and makes walking and other movements increasingly difficult.
Famous people who’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease include actor Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future), the late, great heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, singer Johnny Cash, and preacher Billy Graham.
Crohn’s Disease
The list of celebrities who’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease includes rocker Mike McCready, former 90210 and Charmed star Shannen Doherty, and the 34th president of the US, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Crohn’s Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from mouth to anus. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding and severe weight loss, as well as skin and joint complications.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a skin condition that results in patches of skin losing all pigment, becoming white. Its cause is still up for debate, and there’s no adopted cure for it at this time.
Celebrities who suffer from vitiligo include actor John Hamm (Mad Men), comedian and film star Steve Martin, actor Dudley Moore, NBA player Rasheed Wallace, UFC figher Scott Jorgensen, and singer Tamar Braxton.
Tachycardia
Tachycardia and Atrial Fibrillation are the two most common forms of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat. Both involve elevated heart beats above normal resting rates.
Famous people who have tachycardia include actress and singer Miley Cyrus, pop icon Elton John, British actor Sir Roger Moore, comedian Howie Mandel, and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
HIV-Positive
Celebrities who’ve been diagnosed as HIV-positive include basketball legend Magic Johnson, actor Charlie Sheen, Styx guitarist Chuck Panozzo, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood front-man Holly Johnson.
While no longer the death sentence it was once believed to be, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can eventually leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), and requires dedicated, lifelong management.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid gland, typically leading to hypothyroidism, and manifesting in the form of chronic fatigue, depression, and weight gain.
Celebrities with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis include Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice, actress Gina Rodriguez, actress and model Gena Lee Nolin, and actress Zoe Saldana.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that negatively impacts sleep cycles. Specifically, a classic symptom is falling asleep suddenly during the day for short periods of time (seconds/minutes).
Famous people dealing with narcolepsy include late-night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel, actress Nastassja Kinski, Bill Clinton’s former deputy chief of staff Harold M. Ickes, and drummer Gabe Barham.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, most commonly spread by tick bites. Although it can be cured early on with antibiotics, it’s somewhat difficult to diagnose, and when left untreated the symptoms eventually include chronic fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and memory problems.
Celebrities with lyme disease include singer Avril Lavigne, actor Alec Baldwin, former President George W. Bush, actor Ben Stiller, and author Amy Tan.
Anorexia
When a person is so obsessed with becoming fat that they essentially starve themselves, the eating disorder is called anorexia nervosa.
Celebrities suffering from anorexia include singer Fiona Apple, actress Kate Beckinsale, singer Diana Ross, actor Dennis Quaid, fitness guru Richard Simmons, and actress Calista Flockhart.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. Specifically, levels of androgens (male hormones) are too high.
Celebrities dealing with PCOS include Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels, actress Emma Thompson, and Victoria Beckham (wife of soccer star David Beckham).
Tongue Cancer
Tongue cancer falls under the category of neck and head cancers, and results in malignant growths on the tongue. 90% of all mouth cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, and 75% can be linked to tobacco use or excessive consumption of alcohol.
Celebrities diagnosed with tongue cancer include Actor Michael Douglas, Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson, and golf pro Hubert Green.
Thyroid Cancer
When thyroid cancer strikes, the most common treatment is to have the entire gland removed, followed by treatments using radioactive iodine TSH-suppression therapy.
Famous people who’ve dealt with or are dealing with thyroid cancer include Colombian superstar Sofia Vergara, Dancing with the Stars winner Brooke Burke-Charvet, and singer-songwriter Rod Stewart.
Heart Attack
Heart attacks are typically the result of coronary artery disease where one or more coronary arteries becomes blocked.
Celebrities who’ve suffered a heart attack and recovered include comedian-actress Rosie O’Donnell, singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and talk show host Larry King.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma includes any number of eye diseases that result in optic nerve damage that impairs vision. Untreated glaucoma can lead to blindness.
Celebrities who have to deal with glaucoma include U2 superstar Bono, comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg, astronaut and US Senator John Glenn, and actress Roseanne Barr.
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple Myeloma is a form of cancer that attacks plasma cells, a kind of white blood cell responsible for producing antibodies.
The most famous person by far with Multiple Myeloma is former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw. Although it’s been deemed incurable according to western medicine, it can be effectively managed.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is not producing enough insulin to keep blood sugar under control, resulting in an array of symptoms such as frequent urination, elevated thirst and hunger, weight loss, and more.
Famous people with Type 1 Diabetes include the lead singer of glam-metal band Poison Bret Michaels, television star Mary Tyler Moore, American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox, and teenage idol Nick Jonas.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer attacks the gland of the same name in the reproductive system of men, and 99% of cases occur in men over the age of 50.
Celebrities who’ve dealt with prostate cancer include Tommy Chong (of Cheech and Chong), long-time host of the radio talk show Loveline Dr. Drew Pinksy, California Governor Jerry Brown, and Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro.
Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia is a developmental coordination neurological that limits hand-eye coordination in a way that makes it difficult to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as writing by hand.
One very famous person with dyspraxia is Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame. Others include supermodel/actress Cara Delevingne and British business magnate Richard Branson.
Graves’ Disease
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that impacts the thyroid, typically leading to hyperthyroidism, enlarged thyroid, chronic weakness, sleep troubles and eye problems.
Celebrities dealing with Graves’ disease include Hip Hop recording artist and dancer Missy Elliot, former first couple George H. W. and Barbara Bush, and Australian singer Sia Furler.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer can spread easily from a woman’s ovaries to other parts of the body. The longer a woman ovulates, the greater the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Famous women who’ve dealt with or are dealing with ovarian cancer include Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates, Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller, and MTV Reality Star Diem Brown.
Synovitis
Synovitis is a term referring to inflammation of the synovial membrane, a tissue in the joints of the human body. A form of lupus, the result is excessive joint pain.
The most famous person with synovitis is pop icon Lady Gaga, who’s had to adjust her touring schedule to accommodate for heightened symptoms at various points in time.
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a cancer that attacks the lymph nodes. Survival rates are generally good (86%) when caught early and treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants.
Celebrities who’ve been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma include actor Michael C. Hall (Showtime’s Dexter), former US Senator Arlen Specter, Survivor winner Ethan Zohn, actor Mr. T, and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen.
Bulimia
Bulimia is an eating disorder made up of binge eating followed by purging, often accomplished by inducing vomiting or taking laxatives.
Famous people dealing with bulimia include singer-songwriter and actress Demi Lovato, pop star Paula Abdul, the late pro wrestler and reality TV star Chyna, comedian and author Margaret Cho, and actress Jane Fonda.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a condition in which the nerve cells become damaged and communication between different parts of the nervous system begin to fail, causing a wide variety of problems with physical movement, eyesight, and sometimes psychiatric issues.
Celebrities with multiple sclerosis (MS) include Jack Osbourne (son of metal legend Ozzy Osbourne), TV actor and radio host Montel Williams, and country singer Julie Roberts.
PHOTO: ROLINGSTONE.COM
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is actually a collection of neurological diseases that all cause seizures, and can vary widely in strength and duration. The seizures can be intense enough to cause injury.
Some famous people who had or have epilepsy include the late pop legend Prince, rapper Lil Wayne, actor Danny Glover, and rocker Neil Young.