Celebrities Who Have Been Living With Hidden Health Conditions
David Beckham
We often think of athletes as being in perfect condition. However, many athletes deal with chronic health conditions just like any other profession. Soccer star David Beckham, for example, has asthma.
He hasn’t spoken on it much but his agent did share that he has had asthma since childhood and that the soccer star hopes to inspire young athletes. Aside from this acknowledgment, Beckham hasn’t touched on the subject but continues to share his workout routines even since he left the field.
George Clooney
George Clooney is one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood. Unfortunately, he sustained a major injury to his spine while filming Syriana, leading to lasting pain. Clooney described the instance as “the most unbearable pain I’ve ever been through.”
He later described his work with a pain consultant to GQ, “Basically, the idea is, you try to reset your pain threshold. Because a lot of times what happens with pain is you’re constantly mourning for how it used to feel,” describing the moment it worked as a “euphoria.”
Alyson Stoner
Alyson Stoner has been honest with fans about some of her personal experiences dealing with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder.
Discussing her mental health journey, Stoner told POPSUGAR, “The fundamental change that took place was disengaging from the idea that my body is a project to complete or an object to fix.” Stoner has also started a platform called Movement Genius, looking to address both physical and mental health issues.
Venus Williams
Venus Williams is a master on the tennis court. The athlete shared in 2011 that she has Sjogren’s syndrome, which caused a break, resulting in Williams having to miss the 2011 U.S. Open.
Williams has opened up about her struggle for a diagnosis, going seven years with worsening symptoms before she was diagnosed. She told Prevention.com, “Unfortunately, that’s typical of people with autoimmune disease. They’re misdiagnosed or too sick to function. I literally had professional tennis taken away from me before I got the right diagnosis.”
Everyone has to worry about their mental and physical health – even celebrities. Some celebs have even used their platforms to discuss their own health conditions as well as generally raise awareness and put efforts into philanthropy. These celebs have all opened up about living with health conditions both in their everyday life and at work in Hollywood.