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7 celebrities with chronic illnesses

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With the most luxurious brands available, celebrities live a life many can only dream of – but just like the everyday person, they too have some health problems that money cannot fix. 

Charlie Sheen

The former Two and a Half Men actor was diagnosed with HIV in 2011.

In a 2015 interview with the TODAY show’s Matt Lauer, the controversial actor announced that he has been living with the virus for four years.

Sheen is one of more than 36 million people living with HIV/AIDS globally. South Africa has the largest number of infected individuals with more than seven million people living with the disease.

Selena Gomez

Singer Selena Gomez recently spoke about her health struggles as a result of her Lupus diagnosis.

During an interview with TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie she said, “I had arthritis, my kidneys were shutting down. My mentality was just to keep going.”

Lupus is an autoimmune disease which leads to the immune system attacking healthy tissue causing muscle aches, inflammation and kidney damage.

Gomez's lupus is in remission following a recent kidney transplant. 

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, epilepsy

The Cash Money Records rapper is no stranger to health problems following several episodes of epileptic fits that began in 2013. He said in an interview with radio station Power 106 that his seizures were triggered by high stress levels.

Seizures can also be triggered by drug or alcohol use, low blood sugar and sleep deprivation.

Kim Kardashian West

Kim Kardashian, psoriasis

The beauty mogul and reality star shared her struggle with psoriasis on her reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians

Psoriasis is characterised by painful, red patches on the skin which can be easily mistaken for a common rash or skin conditions such as eczema.

While there is no cure for psoriasis, tropical treatment can help control the symptoms.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga, fibromyalgia

The superstar cancelled the remainder of her Joanne world tour in September 2017 due to fibromyalgia.

Lady Gaga shared her struggle with the debilitating disease on her documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia include severe fatigue, skin tender to the touch, memory problems and joint pain.

Halle Berry 

Chronic illness, celebrities, Halle Berry

Berry is one of 422 million adults globally living with diabetes. The actress was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 19 and has since gone on a ketogenic diet (low-carbohydrate and high-fat) to improve her lifestyle.

Diabetes is characterised by the pancreas’ inability to produce sufficient insulin or the body’s difficulty in using the insulin produced effectively. Symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, fatigue, constant hunger and weight loss.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus, heart condition, tachycardia

The former Disney actress and daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus revealed in her 2009 autobiography Miles To Go that she has a heart condition.

Tachycardia is a heart rhythm disorder in which the heart rate beats abnormally fast. While the condition is not harmful, it can cause discomfort. 

Image credits: Wikipedia

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