The global coronavirus pandemic has understandably taken hold of the headlines because of its far-reaching effects, but it does not mean that other diseases are no longer a concern. Comedian Amy Schumer is one celebrity bringing light to one such disease with a recent revelation.
People reports that the Trainwreck actress revealed on her Instagram account that she has been suffering from Lyme disease for “years” now. She also shared that she has been taking the antibiotic doxycycline to combat it.
As explained by People, Lyme disease is carried by an infected black-legged tick. It is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and in its early stages can cause rashes, fatigue, joint paint, and flu-like symptoms.
More advanced stages of the disease involve brain and heart inflammation; vision, hearing, and memory problems; severe headaches, neurological problems, excruciating joint pain, and even paralysis.
E! Online notes that Schumer is just the latest celebrity to reveal their Lyme disease diagnosis. Other stars who suffer from the disease include Shania Twain, Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, and Yolanda Hadid.
Before Schumer made her announcement, model Bella Hadid posted on her Instagram that she suffered from Lyme disease as well, describing it as something that has impacted her since she was a teenager. Hadid says she continues to experience inflammation, numbness, and muscle cramps.
Of course, celebrities that have tested positive for the coronavirus have been the ones mostly grabbing the headlines recently. Just a few days ago, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson revealed that he and his family tested positive for the coronavirus.
While he and his family are already recovering from the disease, Johnson said it has made him even more vigilant when it comes to health and safety measures. The action star said that visitors to his home will now have to get tested for the coronavirus beforehand.
Another celebrity that was able to successfully recover from the disease is Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, who said he overcame the disease after a period of “disciplinary confinement” that lasted for 21 days.
Actors Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, and Bryan Cranston have also survived the disease. All three have also donated their plasma to medical organizations to aid in the research to find a vaccine for the coronavirus.
According to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 dashboard for Sept. 8, there are currently 27,417,497 confirmed COVID-19 cases globally. There are now 894,241 people around the world that have died from COVID-19.