Celebrities with IBS

It’s hard for many of us to imagine our favorite movie stars, musicians, and fashion moguls having the same health struggles as the rest of us. While they may always look healthy, happy, well rested, and free of the issues that the rest of us experience, the truth is that many celebrities suffer from the same chronic illnesses that affect everyone else.

Irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal issues are no exception. Here are just a few of the celebrities out there who live with IBS.

• Tyra Banks.The model-turned-actress/television host once revealed that she suffers from IBS on her TV show, Tyra.
• Kurt Cobain. The late rockstar suffered for years from an undiagnosed stomach ailment. He described the pain in his suicide note, and there’s even speculation that irritable bowel syndrome is what led him to begin self-medicating with heroin. Despite the fact that it has yet to be proven, it’s no doubt that living with irritable bowel syndrome was an uphill battle for Cobain.
• Lynda Carter. Although she herself didn’t suffer from the condition, her mother did. Watching her mother struggle daily led the original “Wonder Woman” to be an outspoken advocate for IBS awareness.
• John F. Kennedy. This president lost weight due to his frequent bouts of diarrhea. Although his medical records were not made public until the twenty-first century, it’s clear that what caused his discomfort was likely irritable bowel syndrome.
• Jenny McCarthy. McCarthy has made jokes in her autobiography about not needing to diet- her IBS gives her chronic diarrhea. She has also stated that being nervous worsens her symptoms. This is a strong possibility, as stress and anxiety have been linked to increased severity in IBS-related symptoms. This just goes to show that stress management is a must for anyone looking to relieve their irritated stomachs.

Celebrities that have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome have helped bring awareness about the disease. Some have even gone as far as to raise money and start foundations to help people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

Increasing awareness about IBS is the first step toward educating people, changing minds about the treatment of those with the ailment, and finding a cure. Thankfully, more and more people are starting to speak up about their experiences with IBS.

If you currently are suffering from IBS, know that you’re not alone. Contact the experts at GastroCareLI at (516) 265-7049 to schedule a confidential consultation with our team and get the help that you need and deserve!