Shania Twain and Bella Hadid have to get through a health war, but hopefully, their stories can help you. Lyme disease is an illness born from ticks. More specifically, it originates from the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Often, people contract the disease after being bitten by infected black-legged ticks. These ticks regularly feed on mice, deer, or birds, and they then transmit the bacteria to humans by biting them. We’ve just experienced Lyme Disease season, but its effects can last for a lifetime. Singer Shania Twain and model Bella Hadid share their daily struggles with the disease.
It’s not our intention to frighten you about another dreaded disease, but it is important to be aware. Particularly when so many of us have taken a liking to hike, walks, and runs outdoors. Hadid shares a list of physical and mental health symptoms she regularly deals with because of Lyme disease. She tells Health.Com that she feels at least10 different symptoms every day without fail. More importantly, she emphasizes how shallow the world has become and that we focus far too much on the surface. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to be more empathetic and considerate about what’s happening inside.
Shania Twain Was One Of The First
We need to be more caring for others. Country music star Shania Twain even lost her ability to sing. Lyme disease left her with nerve damage to her vocal cords. It’s been a lifetime battle for Shania Twain as she battles to even talk normally. Moreover, it took years for her to figure out what caused her loss of voice, which is why having awareness is so important. Especially with the threat of Covid-19, since underlying conditions can make you a lot more vulnerable to coronavirus complications. However, with Shania Twain’s and Bella Hadid’s stories, you can implement ways to protect yourself.
Shania Twain and Bella Hadid Battle Lyme Disease
Headaches, muscle spasms, insomnia, brain fog are all symptoms that Hadid says she experiences daily. We’re grateful to her for sharing her struggle because nobody truly knows what life is like with Lyme disease or any health issues for that matter. On August 24, the model highlighted almost 30 Lyme disease symptoms she struggles with regularly. These also include anxiety, sensitivity to light and noise, joint pain, yeast infections, and tingling.
The unfortunate thing is that there’s still no cure and the symptoms can worsen as you age. Hadid says she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012 but explains that the symptoms became more aggressive as she turned 23. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the US. Typical symptoms include headaches, chills, fever, fatigue, joint aches, and erythema migraines. Also, a “bulls-eye” rash occurs in 70-80% of cases.
Because it’s a bacterial infection, Lyme disease is usually treated with oral antibiotics like doxycycline or amoxicillin, and patients typically ‘recover fully and quickly with appropriate treatment.’ However, Shania Twain and Bella Hadid contracted the disease years ago and are still battling its horrible symptoms.
Shania Twain Shares Her Story
Twain says she contracted a bacterial infection after being bitten by a tick while horseback riding in Norfolk, Virginia in 2003. She admits that the experience has been quite debilitating and even stopped her from doing things like phone calls, visiting places with ambient noise where you have to speak over the volume of others. This is particularly difficult since our voices form a massive part of our self-expression. And you can only imagine how devastating it was for a vocalist and singer.
Shania Twain is now 54-years-old and has had multiple throat surgeries to try to correct the damage. This almost prevented her from ever stepping on the stage again. She ‘thankfully’ persevered, and is now able to make records and do concerts again.
Some Cases Are Worse Than Others
Depending on the type of Lyme disease you contact, certain infections can be much more severe or prolonged. Both Shania Twain and Bella Hadid have ‘chronic Lyme’ disease.
While the CDC doesn’t recognize chronic Lyme disease, it does describe a condition called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). This is when patients have previously been treated for Lyme disease. Yet they still have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking. These symptoms can last for more than six months after they complete their initial course of treatment.
Bella Hadid and Shania Twain Are The Strength We Need
This has been a really hard year for many, but the good thing is that we’ve raised a heightened awareness about health like never before. Hopefully, there’s a shift in thinking and a healthier future ahead of us all. We can be more empathetic and learn from stories like Shania Twain and Bella Hadid, who are still both highly successful women. It’s very admirable.
Bella Hadid calls Lyme ‘the invisible disease.’ In an interview with Evening Standard magazine, she revealed that the illness affects her memory. She explains that she had to stop driving because she kept crashing. Her brain would just stop working.
Intense Brain Fog And Anxiety
The feelings of exhaustion were intense. Hadid says she forgot how to drive to Santa Monica from Malibu. She lived there. Although Shania Twain and Bella Hadid have unique symptoms, both of them have lost integral aspects of their lives.
Hadid also gave a powerful speech at the Global Lyme Alliance’s second annual ‘Uniting for a Lyme-Free World’ gala in 2016. She says that life isn’t always what it looks like on the outside. But the hardest part of this journey is being judged by the way you look instead of the way you feel. Hadid says she knows what it feels like to not want to get out of bed from bone pain and exhaustion. Some days you don’t want to socialize or be around people. This is due to anxiety and brain fog. She adds that you start getting used to living with the sickness, instead of getting cured and moving on with your life.
Be Empathetic And Health-Smart
We cannot control certain things in life, but we can do our best to look after our health. Learn from both Shania Twain and Bella Hadid. Not only should we try to prevent ourselves from contracting the disease, but also help to spread awareness. It seems that there still isn’t enough support available. Better yet, remember to not judge people based on what you see because you never know what struggles they’re facing daily.
Early treatment of Lyme disease is important because it helps to prevent complications like arthritis, facial paralysis, or heart problems. Once you’ve received your diagnosis, your doctor may then recommend you to a specialist who will confirm your diagnosis and help develop an effective treatment plan.
Stay Healthy, Live Longer
Read more about how you can promote longevity with exercise so that you can have a life experience that’s enjoyable and fulfilling.
References
Shania Twain speaks about her battle with Lyme disease: “I thought I would never sing again.” Gwinnett Daily Post. https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/entertainment/shania-twain-speaks-about-her-battle-with-lyme-disease-i-thought-i-would-never-sing/article_86d7a4d4-000e-5b52-93e9-511916ea4117.html
Shania Twain on her battle with Lyme disease: ‘I thought I would never sing again.’ CTV NEWS. https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/shania-twain-on-her-battle-with-lyme-disease-i-thought-i-would-never-sing-again-1.5067393
Bella Hadid Shared What Life Is Like With Lyme Disease and the Symptoms She Struggles With Daily. HEALTH. https://www.health.com/condition/lyme-disease/lyme-disease-symptoms-bella-hadid
Shania Twain speaks about her battle with Lyme disease: “I thought I would never sing again.” CNN ENTERTAINMENT. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/17/entertainment/shania-twain-lyme-disease-loose-women-intl-scli-gbr/index.html
