7 Celebrities That Suffer From Chronic Conditions
Registered Dietician
| 2 min read
I have a trivia question for you. What do these celebrities have in common?
- Halle Berry
- Nick Jonas
- Randy Jackson
- Tommy Lee
- David Letterman
- Bill Clinton
- Toni Braxton
Well, they all have a chronic condition, a.k.a. chronic disease, which is a long-lasting or recurring health issue.
Defined
The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics defines chronic diseases as conditions that generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication — and they don’t just disappear.
About half of the American population has a chronic condition, which comes to about 133 million people. Also, 88% of seniors greater than 65 years old have at least one chronic disease.
Here are a few examples of chronic conditions, which affect celebrities as well:
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Hypertension
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Lupus
- Lyme Disease
Celebrities You Can Relate To
- Halle Berry
- Nick Jonas
- Randy Jackson
- Tommy Lee
- Bret Michaels
- George Lucas
- Meatloaf
- Andrew Lloyd Weber
- Neil Diamond
- Aretha Franklin
- Morgan Freeman
- Sharon Stone
- Larry King
- Bill Clinton
- David Letterman
- Toni Braxton
- Dick Cheney
- Peggy Fleming
- Regis Philbin
- Robin Williams
- Barbara Walters
Bret Michaels has recently made headlines in regard to his experiences with type 1 diabetes. This has helped shine a light on how diabetes and other chronic conditions impact a person’s health and well-being.
Halle Berry was originally diagnosed with diabetes when she was 22. She has been known to advocate for a healthy, portion-controlled diet and plenty of exercise to help her control blood sugars.
Sharon Stone also has healthy behaviors including carbohydrate counting to help with her diet to control her diabetes.
Barbara Walters had a television special in February during National Heart Health Month and she discussed the impact of heart disease on celebrities, including herself.
I know what you are thinking: Celebrities have it easier because they have a personal trainer or chef that helps them. Remember, you can do the same thing for yourself.
Consider This
- Take the time to see your doctor regularly and ask questions
- Understand your medications and take them regularly
- Remember that you have a lot of control in terms of:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Getting enough sleep
- Staying hydrated
- Taking medication properly
- Seeing a doctor, registered dietitian or other professional on a health care team as necessary
You can do it. Be proactive and healthy. Don’t forget you are the superstar in your own life.
Photo Credit: Loop_Oh
