Many famous people now share their Lyme disease journey which leads people to ask about the common occurrence of this infection in that social group.
Several celebrity names including Bella Hadid, Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Osbourne and Serena Williams alongside her husband Alexis Ohanian publicly disclosed their battles with Lyme disease.
Although celebrities do not have unique exposure to Lyme disease they still seem more affected than other people.
The NHS explains Lyme disease as a bacterial illness that people develop when infected ticks bite them. The disease has different effects on people from simple flu symptoms through life-threatening disorders affecting their brain and heart.
Each year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention records 476,000 new Lyme disease patients in America.
Some of the common symptoms include high fever and chills, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, swelling, headaches, dizziness, and a characteristic “bullseye” rash.
Timely antibiotic treatment works for most Lyme disease patients but the illness turns chronic if doctors do not recognize it early enough.
Infectious disease specialist Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia examines why so many famous people seem to develop Lyme disease.
According to him those who work in the media often encounter environments that carry a higher risk of tick infestations.
Most famous people own forests or live and work near places where numerous ticks exist. He explains that famous people travel to luxury resorts and country homes where they take part in activities such as hiking forest trails and playing golf which raises their tick exposure risks.
Based on his assessment wealthy famous people are more likely to be exposed to tick-infested woodlands either by buying such estates or spending ample time outdoors.
The number of well-known public figures who test positive for Lyme disease keeps expanding. Yolanda Hadid and her family members including Bella and Anwar Hadid have dealt with Lyme disease.
The public knows how Lyme disease put Canadian singer Avril Lavigne into bed for many months while Justin Bieber revealed how the infection damaged his nerves and skin system.
Three more high-profile names including Shania Twain, Alec Baldwin, and Amy Schumer recently joined the group of people who have discussed their battle with Lyme disease.
Alexis Ohanian’s public announcement about his Lyme disease diagnosis has added new celebrity voices to discussions about the widespread nature of this illness.
Lyme disease occurs regularly in specific areas of North America and parts of Europe as shown by healthcare professionals.
Credit: (Instagram/justinbieber)
The highest concentration of Lyme disease occurs in wooded and grassy areas throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast parts of the United States. Celebrities in California and New York live with enhanced chances of getting Lyme disease due to its high local occurrence.
The warmer temperatures linked to climate change now support more tick survival whichEntry allows tick presence into new areas where transmission can happen.
According to experts you should protect yourself from tick bites especially while in woodlands by wearing long sleeves and pants covered with DEET insect repellent and doing tick checks after outdoor activities plus fast removal with fine-point tweezers.
Detecting Lyme disease as soon as it develops through a bite matters for appropriate medical care.
Credit: (Instgaram/bellahadid)
Most tick species do not transmit Lyme disease but people should watch for rashes or flu-like symptoms afterward and get medical treatment.
NHS confirmation states that treated individuals can recover however they may require extended months of symptom management.
Lyme disease survivors from the celebrity world now reach out to educate others about this condition.
Bella Hadid tells her public struggles with Lyme disease symptoms while Avril Lavigne created a foundation to fund medical research and treatments for Lyme patients.
Justin Bieber uses his experiences to show people how to detect Lyme disease early and get prompt medical attention.
These famous sufferers of Lyme disease make us aware of how crucial early detection and preventive efforts become when notifying others about this condition.
By encouraging additional public figures to share their stories about Lyme disease the public will become more aware and the disease will affect fewer people tomorrow.
Feature Image Credit: (Instgaram/bellahadid) (Instagram/justinbieber) (NHS) and (CanvaPro)