While many global celebrities are often placed on a pedestal because of their achievements and fame, they also have their own personal struggles. Contrary to this notion of a picture-perfect life, many movie stars from across the globe suffer from myriad health conditions like the rest of us. But more often than not, they keep their medical conditions confidential due to personal reasons.
However, recently, several celebrities from both the Hollywood and Bollywood industry have talked openly about how they are battling different diseases to normalise such conversations and remove the stigma around them. On World Health Day, here are a few brave stories of renowned personalities who have discussed how they are coping with certain illnesses:
Bruce Willis and Emilia Clarke battle Aphasia
The veteran Hollywood actor from the ‘Die Hard’ era, Bruce Willis, recently announced his retirement plans after being diagnosed with aphasia—a medical condition that hampers a person’s verbal skills and the ability to comprehend, resulting in a struggle to communicate.
While the reason behind his aphasia is unknown, the impairment usually occurs unexpectedly, often following a stroke or head injury, but can also be a result brain tumour or a progressive neurological disorder.
In 2019, the Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke also shared a heartfelt ordeal of suffering from this exact disease following a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)! She has even started a charity to help survivors of stroke and brain injury.
Charlie Sheen’s disclosure of HIV+ status
While mere discussion of HIV is considered taboo in most parts of the world, the ‘Two and a Half Men’ star, Charlie Sheen, officially declared his HIV+ status on a television show in 2015. The disclosure, in fact, boosted online search queries for HIV prevention, and the test sales spiked to a whopping 95%, after which the engagement was dubbed ‘The Charlie Sheen Effect’.
Jada Smith dealing with alopecia
Will Smith’s wife Jada has been suffering from alopecia, and she publicly revealed her diagnosis in 2018. The medical condition results from an attack of the immune system on hair follicles. Hair typically falls out in patches, primarily affecting the head and face. The unfortunate Oscar slap controversy of March 2022 turned the spotlight on Jada’s suffering and highlighted the everyday struggles of the patients.
Deepika’s fight to spread awareness on mental health issues
Deepika Padukone
(Jipson Sikhera/BCCL Kochi)
Numerous people across the globe battle mental health issues, most of which goes undiagnosed that can lead to serious consequences. While celebrities from the Bollywood industry like Nargis Fakhri, King Khan and even Mr Bacchan have opened up about their depression and anxiety issues, Deepika’s story spread like wildfire in India.
In 2015, she first opened up to the world about her struggles after which she also launched an NGO that works towards raising awareness on the importance of psychotherapy. The actor has now begun fundraising to offer free consultation through her foundation.
Sonam Kapoor’s PCOS problem
Sonam has been pretty outspoken about suffering from PCOS and its impact on her life. Since the disorder affects reproductive hormones, it is often considered a taboo subject in India. In fact, the actress was even diagnosed with type-1 diabetes at the tender age of 17! Despite struggling with two diseases known to cause weight gain, she is known for her fitness regime and healthy lifestyle.
Harnaaz Sandhu’s battle with celiac disease
A couple of months after Harnaaz Sandhu won the title of Miss Universe 2021, she gained a few pounds, due to which she was trolled on social media. Recently, the youth icon revealed that she has celiac disease, an immune disorder triggered by foods containing gluten, which was the reason behind her weight gain. She then also addressed the importance of body positivity and self-love.
As the world comes together on April 7 to spread awareness about the need to prioritise physical and mental health, it is also essential to normalise conversations about health issues to tackle them better, rather than creating a stigma around them. And several global icons are, thankfully, leading the way in this regard.
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