Autoimmune diseases often fly under the radar because it is a common misbelief that they don’t really affect your life—talk about a major misconception.
The grave reality is that autoimmune disorders are life-altering.
A national study published in Medical News Today shows that “autoimmune disease severely impacts quality of life and employment.”
Autoimmune diseases can cause joint pain, hair loss, weight changes, and much more. These days, more celebrities are stepping up to the mic and sharing their struggles. These autoimmune disease celebrity examples are helping raise awareness and showing others they’re not alone.
When celebs like Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez get real about the world of autoimmune conditions, symptoms, and treatment options, this openness makes others who are living with these conditions feel a little less alone.
Here’s a rundown of what autoimmunity is and a list of Hollywood stars who are speaking up about their autoimmunity types.
First up: What is autoimmunity?
For those who don’t understand autoimmunity, here’s an analogy:
Imagine your immune system (which is usually your best friend) turns into an overdramatic friend and decides it wants to pick a fight with everyone. Imagine that everyone is those healthy cells in your body.
So, instead of defending you from outside threats, like germs and other mean bacteria, your (used-to-be-best friend) starts attacking you. How rude!
And what’s the deal? What is the root cause of autoimmune disease? There are several theories as to why autoimmune responses happen in the body, but on a basic level, this is the root cause: Your immune system accidentally attacks the body because it senses danger.
Why? Autoimmune responses could stem from an infection or an allergic reaction. However, this just skims the surface. The truth is, there is no single root cause of autoimmune disease; it could also be due to:
- Genetics: Thanks a lot, DNA; some people are just more predisposed to autoimmune disorders.
- Environmental factors: Dust, pollution, mold—all that yucky stuff may trigger autoimmune responses.
- Chronic stress: Yes, that pesky chronic stress is found to trigger all sorts of autoimmune responses. One study highlighted in the Global Autoimmune Institute found that up to 80 percent of patients have reported uncommon emotional stress before the onset of disease.
- Hormones: While hormones are not considered direct triggers of autoimmune responses, they act as adjuvants (enhancing the immune system), which may contribute to the onset of some autoimmune diseases.
You see? Autoimmunity isn’t clear-cut as to why, what, or who it will happen to. For now, let's keep breaking it down one step at a time.
Demystifying autoimmune language
The language that surrounds autoimmunity types can get confusing. Let’s look at some important medical terminology in the autoimmune world:
- Autoimmunity vs. autoimmunity disorder: Autoimmunity is the process of the immune system mistakenly targeting healthy cells. An autoimmune disorder occurs when this process develops into a chronic condition, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
- Autoimmunity vs. allergy: Allergies occur when the body begins to freak out over stuff like pollen, peanuts, and dust. In response, the immune system releases chemicals (like histamine), resulting in an allergic reaction, like swelling or itching. Autoimmunity occurs when the body freaks out over itself, mistakenly attacking its healthy cells instead of defending them. This can lead to “flare-ups” of depression, poor sleep, exhaustion, and increased pain, among other things.
- Autoimmunity vs. immunodeficiency: Autoimmunity is an overactive immune system, which sounds great in theory—but now you understand it’s not. Immunodeficiency is when your system becomes too weak to fight against illnesses, even the common ones like a cold or the flu.
The usual suspects: Common autoimmunity types
Autoimmunity types are being brought to the spotlight more and more, thanks to autoimmune disease celebrity examples found in the media.
Let’s talk about some conditions you’ve probably heard about while quietly doomscrolling in the middle of the night (it’s okay; we all do it sometimes).
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: This autoimmune thyroid condition slows down your metabolism, causes fatigue, weight gain, and oh-so-not-fun mood swings.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This is a common and widely publicized autoimmune disease that directly attacks the joints. Your joints? They’re not happy and may swell, stiffen, or ache during major flare-ups.
- Lupus: It is a whole-body wild card that's very hard to diagnose and even harder to live with. It can attack major organs like your brain, heart, kidneys, and joints.
- Psoriasis: This is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the skin. It is also a fairly well-known disorder that affects millions throughout the U.S.
- Celiac disease: The body perceives gluten as the enemy—and not in a trendy way. Celiac disease causes your body to attack the small intestine, which causes bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Autoimmune diseases don’t deserve standing ovations, but the celebrities who open up and talk about them do. Here’s a list of red-carpet stars who are candid about their struggles with autoimmune disease.
What is the hardest autoimmune disease to diagnose?
Lupus and rheumatic diseases may be some of the hardest autoimmune syndromes to diagnose; however, every autoimmune diagnosis takes time—and a whole lot of patience.
Signs aren’t always loud: Autoimmune symptoms often sneak up on a person slowly. While there is no tell-tale sign, some sneaky symptoms to watch for are:
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- Joint pain
- Brain fog
- Rashes
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Low-grade fevers
There is no single test that can specifically detect autoimmune disorders. Sometimes, blood tests can look for antibodies to diagnose certain autoimmune types. Likewise, imaging, like MRIs for joint pain and ultrasounds to check the thyroid, can help diagnose an autoimmune disorder.
Autoimmune celebrity examples
Celebrities are humans too—and thank God for that, because they make the world of autoimmune disease feel less isolated. Here are their stories.
Selena Gomez (Lupus)
You probably know Selena Gomez as a bright-eyed and talented singer and actress. Unfortunately, Selena was diagnosed with lupus around 2014, and she told the public in 2015. Since then, she’s dealt with weight gain and undergone chemotherapy and a kidney transplant.
In a story featured in Women’s Health from a Billboard cover story, Selena Gomez opened up by sharing, “I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy. That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke.”
Selena Gomez’s lupus and weight gain were heavily criticized by the media (terrible, we know). Aside from that, some rumours sparked while she was undergoing her chemotherapy that she was actually in rehab for addiction—not cool, people.
The reality was that she was trying to heal and look for a matching donor for her kidney transplant, who ended up being one of her best friends. Luckily, she was also surrounded by a team of talented nurses in the hospital where she received care.
When did Selena know she had lupus? Anxiety and fatigue—both overlooked symptoms—caused Selena to wonder what the heck was going on in her body and mind, and led her to finally seek a diagnosis.
What caused Selena Gomez to have lupus? This remains unknown. Like many autoimmune diseases, there’s no single trigger, and this is one of the most frustrating things about autoimmune disorders.
Lady Gaga (Fibromyalgia)
We all know Lady Gaga for her amazing stage presence and impressive windpipes. Really, no one has a voice like hers.
What is Lady Gaga’s syndrome? It’s fibromyalgia. Whether fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease is still controversial, although some research suggests immune system involvement. Either way, Lady Gaga has shared her story with the media, helping bring awareness to this often misunderstood condition.
When was Lady Gaga diagnosed with fibromyalgia? Lady Gaga announced she had fibromyalgia in 2017. She was quoted in Vogue in a 2018 interview,
“I get so irritated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real. For me, and I think for many others, it’s really a cyclone of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and panic disorder, all of which send the nervous system into overdrive, and then you have nerve pain as a result. People need to be more compassionate. Chronic pain is no joke. And it’s every day waking up not knowing how you’re going to feel.”
Lady Gaga even had to cancel several tour dates because of it. Today, she continues to talk about how this condition affects her life, and says she is feeling much better, according to a recent report by Yahoo.
Does fibromyalgia go away? Not exactly. But Gaga says she’s now pain-free (as of 2024!) thanks to some healthy lifestyle changes like infrared saunas and Epsom salts—yay, we are so happy for her.
Dr. Nicole Saphier (unknown autoimmune disease)
Dr. Nicole Saphier is a respected figure in the medical world. She is a talented radiologist and Director of Breast Imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth. You may also know her as an on-air medical commentator for Fox News.
She is a health advocate and receives praise from her followers every day for emphasizing the importance of whole-body health.
So, what autoimmune disease does Dr. Nicole Saphier have? Nicole Saphier hasn’t explicitly said what autoimmune disease she has, but did share in an interview with Resident, a luxury lifestyle magazine, that she does, in fact, have one. She shared,
“Over the past decade, dealing with my autoimmune disease has shifted my focus toward reducing inflammation and promoting wellness in my own life. This personal journey has highlighted the importance of proactive health measures rather than reactive treatments.”
So, is Dr. Nicole Saphier sick? Sick is a harsh word; while Dr. Nicole admits to dealing with issues surrounding her autoimmune disease, she says she uses natural medicine, including herbs like turmeric, ginger, and echinacea, to calm down and keep her healthy.
Did Dr. Nicole Saphier have cancer? No, this has never been publicly confirmed and is most likely untrue. Saphier does talk about how her Italian grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and died from it during Dr. Saphier’s third year of medical school.
Is Dr. Nicole Saphier still practicing? Yes. She is adamant about empowering and informing women to take control of their health through informed, proactive choices.
Got it. Now, what about autoimmunity treatment?
Great question! We hope doctors will one day have an answer and a cure for every autoimmune disorder. For now, there is no one-size-fits-all cure.
Today, it’s more about keeping these long-term conditions under control and the immune system in check. Some ways to do this are by using steroids, hormone replacement, or immunosuppressants.
More holistic ways to treat autoimmunity are eating anti-inflammatory foods, practicing good sleep hygiene, meditating, exercising, and reducing stress.
Now, for one last hard question: Can an autoimmune disease eventually lead to death? Yes, if untreated. The good news? Most people with autoimmune diseases lead fairly healthy and long lives with the proper treatment.
What is the average life expectancy with autoimmune disease? Most people with autoimmune diseases can live long, healthy lives with early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Rising autoimmune cases: Why per diem nurses matter
In recent years, more and more individuals are being diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.
Part of this is due to better diagnostic technologies, and the other part is because people in the spotlight, like celebrities, are bringing awareness to the importance of seeking treatment for these disorders. These “invisible” diseases are frustrating for those who have them, but there’s hope.
With the combination of early diagnosis, holistic and traditional treatments, both everyday individuals and well-known figures are proving that life doesn’t end with an autoimmune diagnosis. These examples of celebrities with autoimmune diseases highlight the importance of seeking care and spreading awareness.
This surge in autoimmune cases means more care is needed in hospitals, clinics, and other medical settings. Nurses who are looking for flexibility in their schedules and who feel empowered to care for patients in need can start picking up shifts with Nursa.
Nursa connects per diem nurses with high-impact shifts that make a difference in patients' lives. Facilities will benefit from using Nursa to help their partners find the clinicians they need when they need them.
Download the app today, and start picking up meaningful shifts.
Sources:
- Global Autoimmune Institute: Stress & Autoimmune Disease: Navigating the Complex Relationship
- Medical News Today: National study finds autoimmune disease severely impacts quality of life and employment
- Resident: A Luxury Style Magazine: Empowering Resilience: Dr. Nicole Saphier's Journey from Medicine to Media
- Vogue: Lady Gaga Opens Up About A Star Is Born, MeToo, and a Decade in Pop
