Model Bella Hadid has expressed her deep gratitude to fans after sharing an emotional health update about a flare-up of her chronic Lyme disease. The 29-year-old posted a tearful selfie on Instagram on Thursday, revealing the severity of her symptoms, including being out of breath just walking to the kitchen.
Hadid's Health Update
Hadid, diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in the early 2010s, described the flare-up as something she was unable to shake off. She noted that despite sleeping for 11 hours, she continued needing naps and felt her brain cells were not functioning properly. She mentioned taking every protocol from multiple doctors without relief, but considered showering without fainting a significant achievement.
On Friday, she posted a follow-up message to her 59.3 million followers, apologizing for any concern and explaining that such episodes are part of her everyday reality. 'This truly is an everyday ebb and flow for me, for the past 15 years,' she wrote. 'I just had an overwhelming amount of emotion over not being able to do the things my mind is capable of setting, but my body is not capable of doing.'
Chronic Illness Journey
Hadid has been open about the unpredictable nature of her condition and the challenges of living with an invisible chronic illness. She was diagnosed alongside her mother Yolanda Hadid, star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and her brother. According to the NHS, most people recover from Lyme disease, but a small proportion experience persistent symptoms like tiredness, aching, and loss of energy for years.
Despite her health struggles, Hadid has achieved remarkable success in fashion. She has graced the cover of Vogue dozens of times and was named model of the year by the British Fashion Council in 2022. In 2023, Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people. Her sister Gigi, also a model, won the same British Fashion Council award in 2016.
Hadid concluded her Friday post with hope for a better day, thanking fans for their unexpected but truly appreciated support.
