Celebs Like Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, and More Who Have Been Battling Serious Lifelong Diseases

Celebrities Confronting Long-Term Health Challenges

Even the brightest stars in the world of fame and celebrity can be eclipsed by the shadow of chronic illnesses. These superstars, whose names fill the front pages and red carpets, also experience the strain of long-term health struggles that have profoundly changed their lives. Many of these celebrities are using their celebrity status and position to make meaningful connections with people who have similar chronic diseases. They recognize the alienating aspect of such illnesses and hope to foster a sense of community and understanding among individuals who experience similar difficulties. Let's dig into the accounts of these well-known figures who bravely confront and fight lifelong illnesses, showing that perseverance has no bounds. 

1. Kim Kardashian

In a piece for sister Kourtney Kardashian's site, Poosh, Kim Kardashian opened up about her long fight with psoriasis, per Allure. She detailed her experiences with the disease over 13 years, including personal images. Despite her mother's experience, Kim's psoriasis journey has been unique. It first appeared when she was 25, and after a brief respite, it reappeared more aggressively in her early 30s. She attempted numerous treatments but has come to accept her condition. It was momentarily removed during pregnancy, but it reappeared. Kim encourages against allowing psoriasis to dictate your life and offers support to individuals who are affected by it.

2. Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez has been praised for being open about her fight with lupus, an inflammatory condition in which her immune system attacks normal tissue. She admitted that her lupus medication causes her to retain water weight at times, but she values her health and believes in the importance of her medication. Due to lupus difficulties, she underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, with her friend Francia Raisa giving her a kidney. Gomez's openness regarding her illness has aided in raising awareness of lupus, which is frequently referred to as an "invisible illness" due to its hidden symptoms and diagnostic hurdles, reports Healthline.

3. Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber announced in the summer of 2022 that he had Lyme disease and a chronic viral illness, which had damaged his skin, brain function, energy, and overall health. He responded to social media rumors about his appearance and discussed his health issues. He also had Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which caused facial paralysis, reports BBC. Despite these obstacles, Bieber has stated his intention to overcome his health problems and resume his music career. Hailey Bieber, his wife, defended him against individuals who underestimated the severity of Lyme disease, per Marca.

4. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga suffers from fibromyalgia, a chronic ailment that causes widespread pain, physical discomfort, and cognitive difficulties known as "fibro fog." It can also have an impact on sleep, emotions, and other aspects of daily living. The specific reason is unknown, but genetics, environment, hormones, and the immune system are thought to be involved. Fibromyalgia affects roughly 2% of the global population, per The Conversation. As per The Things, Gaga tweeted this message, "In our documentary the #chronicillness #chronicpain I deal w/ is #Fibromyalgia. I wish to help raise awareness & connect people who have it." Fibromyalgia is a disease that causes widespread muscle pain throughout one's body. It also causes extreme fatigue as well as memory issues. Insomnia is another huge factor in this disease.

5. Kate Middleton 

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was bullied as a child for having eczema, a common skin ailment that causes itching and dry, cracked skin. From the age of 13, she attended Downe House girl's boarding school in Berkshire, where she was bullied by other students, per Good to Know. Eczema is a skin ailment that can have a long-term influence on a person's life. Eczema patients have dry, itchy, flaky, irritated skin without doing anything to aggravate the condition. Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Adele, and Kerry Washington are among the other celebrities who suffer from eczema, per The Things.

6. Nick Jonas

Nick Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13 years old. At the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards, he discussed his experience, expressing concern that it may harm his music career. Through social media posts and debates, Jonas continues to increase awareness about diabetes and its early indications, per Healthline. In the United States, roughly 1.3 million persons have type 1 diabetes.  "This is truly incredible," he remarked while presenting at the Radio Disney Music Awards in April 2017, per Prevention. "These kids who are up here are all type 1 diabetes like myself...This is a disease I was diagnosed with when I was 13. It was a moment in my life when I was just getting ready to start making music with my brothers, and touring, and it was something I thought would slow me down before I even got started."

7. Gabrielle Union

"Fertility is not an older women's issue. It's an issue, period," said the actress, who suffers from adenomyosis, a chronic illness in which endometrial tissue develops into the uterine wall, per Prevention. Adenomyosis commonly causes symptoms such as heavy periods and pelvic pain, and it is frequently related to fertility issues. Union, who is married to NBA player Dwayne Wayde, opened up about her fertility issues on The Doctor Oz Show. She openly admitted to having several miscarriages, estimated eight or nine at the time of her 2018 interview. Union is now dedicated to helping individuals who may be silently suffering from similar challenges through her book We're Going To Need More Wine and public discussions about undergoing IVF.

8. Gigi Hadid

While establishing herself as a top model, Gigi Hadid was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. In 2018, she faced body shamers who ridiculed her appearance and exposed her battle with the condition. Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune ailment that causes the body's antibodies to target the thyroid, resulting in symptoms such as hair loss, exhaustion, and weight gain. To regulate her symptoms and thyroid levels, Gigi took medication and holistic treatment. She defended herself against physical expectations, pointing out that each person's body evolves differently, per Hollywood Life. Hashimoto's disease affects around 14 million individuals in the United States and is treated with hormone medication and lifestyle adjustments, but there is no cure.

9. Selma Blair

Actress Selma Blair revealed her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) on Instagram in October 2018, after having been experiencing symptoms for many years and first misdiagnosing them as a pinched nerve. per CBS News. Her MS journey began in her early twenties with visual neuritis, a common MS symptom, but she didn't think of it as a neurological illness at the time. It wasn't until her forties that she was officially diagnosed with MS. Blair has since been open about her MS ups and downs on social media and in her best-selling book, Mean Baby, and she has used her platform to advocate for individuals suffering from chronic diseases and disabilities.

10. Sia

Sia had announced that she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes severe discomfort. It affects one in every 5,000 persons worldwide, causing hypermobile joints, stretchy skin, and weariness. Sia's candor draws attention to this disease, which frequently goes undetected for months or years. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of 13 hereditary illnesses that affect connective tissue and cause a variety of symptoms. The diagnosis is complicated, incorporating family history and, in certain cases, genetic tests. While there is no cure, therapies for severe cases include pain management, counseling, and monitoring, per Healthline.