Celebrities who have autoimmune diseases

Stars with autoimmune diseases
What is an autoimmune disease?
What are the symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
Many different types
Celine Dion
Stiff person syndrome
Affects the nervous system
Selena Gomez
Lady Gaga
It's in her family...
...but she has no symptoms (yet)
Other famous people who have lupus
Kim Kardashian
Zoe Saldana: Hashimoto's syndrome
Gigi Hadid
Gina Rodriguez
Overcoming obstacles
Inspiring examples
Stars with autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are more common than you might think. Just like anyone else, celebrities may have to live with them and fight a daily struggle in search of well-being.

In the image: Celine Dion

What is an autoimmune disease?

Autoimmune diseases are a group of illnesses in which the immune system attacks the body itself rather than protecting it from outside threats.

In the image: Kim Kardashian

What are the symptoms of autoimmune diseases?

It is difficult to specify general symptoms for autoimmune diseases. They vary from person to person and can manifest themselves differently.

In the image: Toni Braxton

Many different types

There are more than 100 types of autoimmune diseases. Among the best known are diabetes, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

In the image: Gigi Hadid

Celine Dion

Celine Dion is known to suffer from an autoimmune disease. This group of illnesses tends to have no cure.

Stiff person syndrome

One of the more complex and lesser-known autoimmune diseases is stiff person syndrome, which affects Celine Dion.

Affects the nervous system

According to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders, stiff person syndrome is rare, and progressive and affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord.

Selena Gomez

Another star with an autoimmune disease, lupus, is singer and actress Selena Gomez. She underwent a kidney transplant in 2017 and shared the success of the surgery on social media.

Lady Gaga

According to a study published in the journal Nature, a team of researchers identified that lupus can be genetic, as is the case with Lady Gaga.

It's in her family...

The singer told on Larry King Live: "Lupus is in my family and it's genetic... I have to take good care of myself..."

...but she has no symptoms (yet)

Lady Gaga comforted the audience by declaring that "As of right now, I don't have it." She explained: "I don't show any signs, any symptoms of lupus."

Other famous people who have lupus

Lupus also affects singers Seal (photo) and Toni Braxton.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian is also living with autoimmune diseases. She has lupus and psoriasis - a disease that causes skin cells to build up, causing sores.

Zoe Saldana: Hashimoto's syndrome

Actress Zoe Saldana has Hashimoto's syndrome or thyroiditis. The disease is characterized by constant inflammation in the thyroid and is treated through hormonal supplementation.

Gigi Hadid

Gigi Hadid and Gina Rodriguez are also living with Hashimoto's syndrome. It can cause problems with weight loss, which especially bothered Rodriguez when she first got her diagnosis.

Gina Rodriguez

As the 'Jane the Virgin' actress told Vogue magazine: "I rejected the fact that I had a disease... I went against the current by saying, 'Hollywood has to accept me because I'm curvy, and that's just the way it is.' But I wasn't accepting me."

 

Overcoming obstacles

As many people with autoimmune diseases, Rodriguez had to accept the fact that she would be limited by her illness. Still, her talent helped her overcome all obstacles.

Inspiring examples

Celebrities with autoimmune diseases can inspire others with the same conditions to keep believing in themselves.

In the image: Oprah Winfrey