Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and more share terrible health scares

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Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and more share terrible health scares

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Imagine losing your ability to do the most mundane tasks: brush your teeth, walk your dog, watch a sunset.

For several celebrities, simple tasks became tedious as they faced partial paralysis, visual impairment, or memory loss.

But there may be a silver lining when stars go public with their health concerns. dr Nicole Saphier, a New York doctor, Fox News contributor, and best-selling author of Make America Healthy Again, says this generation is normalizing talk about illness in a way previous generations haven’t.

“This is extremely important as we live longer and suffer from chronic diseases. By normalizing the conversation, more people will be able to seek treatment and support others.”

— dr Nicole Saphier

Here’s a look at celebrities who have shared their health struggles.

ASHTON KUTCHER VASCULITIS, A RARE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE: WHAT IS IT?

Ashton Kutcher – Vasculitis

Ashton Kutcher revealed he has a rare autoimmune condition, vasculitis.
(Gilbert Flores)

Ashton Kutcher shocked fans by revealing that he lost his ability to walk, hear and see a few years ago.

In an episode of National Geographic’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” Kutcher shared his battle with a rare autoimmune disease called vasculitis. Describing the drastic symptoms he was struggling with, he added, “You don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone.”

The That 70’s Show actor later took to Twitter to clarify that he was “fully recovered” and would “move on,” even planning to run the 2022 New York City Marathon.

Justin Bieber – Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Justin Bieber has postponed his tour due to partial facial paralysis.  He has Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.

Justin Bieber has postponed his tour due to partial facial paralysis. He has Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.
(Rachpoot/MEGA)

Justin Bieber’s Justice World Tour was underway when the superstar started canceling shows. In a revealing Instagram message, he got honest with fans and addressed what was going on.

The “Ghost” singer shared that he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which left half his face paralyzed.

“This is pretty serious, as you can see,” he said in a video. “I wish that wasn’t the case, but obviously my body is telling me to slow down.”

JUSTIN BIEBER PERFORMS FOR FIRST TIME AFTER WORLD TOUR DATES WERE CANCELED DUE TO DIAGNOSIS OF RAMSAY HUNT SYNDROME

A little over a week ago, the 28-year-old reappeared for the first time since his diagnosis was announced. Shortly after the performance, Bieber noted in an Instagram post to fans, “I missed you.”

Emilia Clarke – Brain Aneurysm

"game of Thrones" Star Emilia Clarke battled two life-threatening brain aneurysms.

Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke battled two life-threatening brain aneurysms.
(David M Benett)

Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke revealed in 2019 that while playing mother of dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, she suffered two life-threatening brain aneurysms that left her with irreparable damage.

In an essay for The New Yorker, Clarke described the excruciating pain and nausea she felt in the middle of a workout.

“I said to myself, ‘I’m not going to be paralyzed.’ I moved my fingers and toes to make sure that was true,” she wrote. “To keep my memory alive, I tried to remember a few lines from ‘Game of Thrones,’ among other things.”

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Emilia later learned that she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is a life-threatening type of stroke or aneurysm. This led to the actress having her first brain surgery. She said she couldn’t remember her own name when she first woke up, but eventually recovered.

Just a few years later, doctors had to perform more invasive surgery after a second aneurysm.

Six years after her second surgery, the actress says she has made a full recovery but is grateful to have shared her story.

Melanie Griffith – Epilepsy

Melanie Griffith has been transparent about her battle with epilepsy.

Melanie Griffith has been transparent about her battle with epilepsy.
(John Phillips / Stringers)

Melanie Griffith had seizures that occurred when she was very stressed. After suffering a series of seizures in France, Griffith flew back to the United States and later revealed at a Women’s Brain Health Initiative panel, “I’ve been diagnosed with epilepsy.”

Griffith, who was married to Antonio Banderas for 18 years and is the mother of actress Dakota Johnson, said she found relief in medication and also in her divorce.

“I got divorced, which for me is the real healer,” she said.

MELANIE GRIFFITH BATTLES EPILEPSY, SAYS DIVORCE ASSISTED RECOVERY

In 2017, the “Working Girl” actress announced that she had received the all-clear from a medical center, which tested her brain and couldn’t find the epilepsy.

“I thank God I’m in a position where I could sort of figure out where to go, that’s the latest high-tech place to get as much information as possible,” she said. “If I was living in poverty with four kids and couldn’t make ends meet and I had a f—— seizure. What do you do? How does the average person, male or female, get help?”

Although access to health care is a different conversation, says Dr. Saphier that celebrities speaking publicly about their health issues are very helpful to the general public.

“When people see someone they ‘know’ talking about a health struggle, others who may be facing something similar often feel like they are not alone in their struggle. It can also encourage others to seek medical evaluation and treatment.”

— dr Nicole Saphier

Michael J. Fox – Parkinson’s Disease

Michael J. Fox announced the creation of the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 with the goal of finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Michael J. Fox announced the creation of the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 with the goal of finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
(Jim Zauberman)

Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29. The now over 60-year-old has spent more than half his life with the brain disease. He did not go public with his diagnosis until eight years after the diagnosis.

In a 2020 interview with People magazine, Fox said acting has become increasingly difficult because the disease is affecting his speech and memory, making it difficult to memorize lines.

In a recent interview with AARP, the Back to the Future actor said, “The illness is this thing that’s connected to my life — it’s not the driver.”

In 2000, Fox established the non-profit Michael J. Fox Foundation in an effort to find a cure for Parkinson’s. The foundation has led to over a dozen clinical trials and therapeutic programs. The foundation is a resource for those who have been diagnosed or are newly diagnosed.

dr Saphier notes that celebrities sharing their health journeys can give the public more knowledge about their illnesses.

“Michael J. Fox also presented his diagnosis of Parkinson’s, making it more of a household name than an obscure neurological condition that most people have not heard of.”

— dr Nicole Saphier

Selena Gomez – Lupus

Selena Gomez has had a kidney transplant for lupus.  Her friend and fellow actor Francia Raisa donated a kidney to Gomez.

Selena Gomez has had a kidney transplant for lupus. Her friend and fellow actor Francia Raisa donated a kidney to Gomez.
(Stefania D’Alessandro)

Selena Gomez’s battle with the autoimmune disease lupus reached a frightening climax when the actress underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.

Selena’s friend and fellow actress Francia Raisa donated a kidney.

In 2015, in an interview with Billboard, Gomez shared her diagnosis and revealed that she was undergoing chemotherapy.

After her major surgery, Lose You to Love Me singer Savannah Guthrie revealed on the Today show that she was taken back to the operating room because the kidney in her body was moving. She underwent another six hours of surgery.

Gomez said her recovery period was intense. She was only allowed to walk for one hour a day. However, she says her arthritis disappeared immediately and there is only a 3-5% chance of her lupus returning.

Charlie Sheen – HIV

Charlie Sheen announced in 2015 that he had HIV.

Charlie Sheen announced in 2015 that he had HIV.
(bobby bench)

In a 2015 interview with Matt Lauer on Today, Charlie Sheen said, “It’s hard to pick up three letters. It’s a turning point in your life.” The actor was diagnosed with HIV.

The Two and a Half Men star said his discovery of the disease “started with a series of devastating headaches.”

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When the interview aired, Sheen’s doctor said his body had “undetected viral loads” of HIV. Sheen says he got involved at a late stage in an FDA-backed drug trial that should soon be approved.

Sheen, who initially did not want to make his illness transparent, had concerns.

“I have a responsibility now to improve myself and help a lot of other people, and hopefully others will come forward with what we’re doing today and say, ‘Thanks, Charlie.'”

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