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Recently, Bella Hadid shared some pictures of her Lyme disease treatment process. For years, she has been one of the celebrities that has opened about the journey of living with this disease, a condition she contracted back in 2012. But she’s not the only one who suffers from this illness. There’s a lot of celebrities that have suffered the same hell.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease is the most common illness spread by bugs in the United States. This disease is a complex and often misunderstood illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. 

It can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain, headaches, and neurological issues. For many patients, the road to diagnosis can be long and challenging, as the disease can mimic other conditions. This disease can have serious consequences if left untreated. 

Causes & Risk Factors 

Ticks become infected when they feed on infected animals, such as deer, rodents, and birds. Humans can contract the disease when they are bitten by an infected tick. 

Living or spending time in wooded or grassy areas, where ticks are prevalent, increases the risk of exposure to this disease. Engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, or gardening in tick-infested areas further raises the chances of being bitten. 

Lyme Disease & Celebrities

Bella, Anwar & Yolanda Hadid 

The Hadid family –comprising Bella, her brother Anwar, and their mother Yolanda Hadid– has long been familiar with the hardships of living with Lyme disease. Back in 2016, Yolanda Hadid opened up to PEOPLE, discussing the overwhelming symptoms of this condition.

     There are rough days when you sleep 12 hours, you wake up at 11 and you can’t get out of bed, with severe joint pain, brain fog, anxiety. There are a lot of symptoms that you can’t see from the outside but bring you to your knees on the inside… You can never get rested, that’s the best way to explain it.” 

Justin Bieber 

In January 2020, the Bieber disclosed that a photograph from July 2019, which had triggered online speculations about his health, including unfounded assumptions about drug use, was actually captured during the most intense phase of his struggle with Lyme disease. 

      While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like s-, on meth etc. they failed to realize I’ve been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease,» he wrote on Instagram. «It’s been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever.”  

Avril Lavigne 

In 2015, Lavigne opened up about her struggle with Lyme disease in an interview with «Good Morning America,» suspecting being bitten back in 2014. In October 2018, the singer told Billboard she felt unwell during her 2014 tour, and recalled thinking, «I’m achy, I’m fatigued, I cannot get the f***ing out of bed –what the f**k is wrong with me?» as her symptoms progressively got worse. 

While battling the disease intensely, Lavigne mentioned that she wrote her song «Head Above Water» in 2018 as a response to her experience with the illness.

     I had accepted that I was dying … And literally under my breath, I was like, ‘God, help me keep my head above the water.” 

Thalía 

During much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Thalía was a complete hit on the Latin music charts. However, in 2007, near the end of her first pregnancy, the singer of «Amor A La Mexicana» began to feel unwell, and became unable to care for her newborn daughter.

Doctors tried to convince her that her symptoms were due to postpartum depression, but she was unknowingly dealing with a full-blown case of Lyme disease. 

     I continued to feel like I had been run over by a truck that had dragged me for a thousand miles, along with a steamroller that had crushed every last bone in my body. I literally thought I was dying” –the singer confessed in her 2011 memoir Growing Stronger. 

Later, when she finally gathered the strength to do research online, she discovered specialists, and ultimately, she underwent two years of intensive treatments. Thanks to this, she continues to tour and create new music. 

Alec Baldwin 

Baldwin admitted in a 2011 interview with The New York Times that he had chronic Lyme disease, and he didn’t mention his diagnosis again until 2017 when he spoke on stage at an event to benefit the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. 

He described experiencing the classic Lyme disease symptoms every summer for five years –symptoms similar to black lung, flu-like discomfort, and intense sweating. He also recalled that the initial occurrence was the most severe, even leading him to believe he might not survive. 

     I was lying in bed saying, ‘I’m going to die of Lyme disease,’ in my bed.” 

Ben Stiller 

According to Insider, back in 2011, Stiller shared details about his experience with Lyme disease with The Hollywood Reporter, stating, «A few years back, during my time in Nantucket, Massachusetts, I contracted it. My knee became swollen, and despite initial confusion, it was eventually identified as Lyme.» 

He mentions that he’s currently free from symptoms, but he acknowledges that Lyme disease will forever remain within his system. 

Treatment & Prevention

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for effectively managing Lyme disease. Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics to combat the bacterial infection (DO NOT SELF MEDICATE). The duration of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the severity of symptoms. 

Preventing Lyme disease involves taking proactive measures to avoid tick bites. When spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Use insect repellent on exposed skin and treat clothing with specialized products. 

After returning indoors, conduct a thorough tick check on your body and clothing. Stay safe.