Celebrities like Yolanda Hadid and Alec Baldwin have opened up about their struggles with Lyme disease, but what exactly is this health condition?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans through bites from infected ticks. It is the most common vector-borne illness in the U.S., affecting about 30,000 Americans each year. Some people with Lyme develop a bullseye-shaped rash at the site of the tick bite. Others may experience symptoms like fever, headache, or fatigue.
Acute Lyme infections are diagnosed via observation of physical symptoms and laboratory testing. If your doctor thinks you have Lyme, you’ll typically be prescribed an antibiotic to combat the infection.
Since many Lyme symptoms are also associated with other illnesses, acute infections sometimes go undiagnosed. If left untreated for too long, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, resulting in chronic health issues.
This form of Lyme, called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD), is believed to be the result of a severe autoimmune response to the initial infection. (It’s sometimes referred to as Chronic Lyme Disease, or CLD, although many experts don’t use this term because it lacks a clear clinical definition.) PTLD symptoms range in severity, from brain fog, to prolonged muscle or joint pain, to disabling, full-body exhaustion. This illness is incurable, although there are some treatments to manage symptoms.
Since Lyme disease spreads via ticks, it’s super important to look out for tick bites in situations where exposure is likely — especially during the spring and summer, when these pesky, tiny bugs are out in full force. The CDC recommends treating your clothing or gear with the insecticide Permethrin and performing full-body tick checks after spending time outdoor in wooded areas. (If you find a tick on yourself or your child, here’s how you should remove it.)
Living with an invisible illness like PLTD can be lonely and terrifying, especially when your symptoms aren’t under control. That’s why many celebrities who have this condition have chosen to use their platforms to spread awareness about Lyme Disease treatment and prevention.
Keep reading to learn more about how Lyme has affected the lives of celebs like Bella Hadid, Shania Twain, and Justin Bieber, among others.