Health Conditions Faced by Women in Music
BY LAURA HARPER/WWR Staff Writer
May is Women’s Health Awareness Month, which aims to educate everyone about the various health conditions faced by women and ways to look out for them. Often, health conditions may not be readily apparent when looking at someone, but the struggles they face in their daily lives as a result of the condition can be extensive. Women Who Rock has put together this list of five female musicians who have struggled or are currently struggling with a chronic health condition, including some of the invisible signs and symptoms that come alongside each condition.
1. Lady Gaga – Fibromyalgia
In 2017, Lady Gaga revealed that she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Although it can sometimes be hard to identify, fibromyalgia is typically associated with pain in joints and muscles throughout the body, tenderness, and chronic fatigue. Flare-ups of this disease can be extremely painful, which has caused Lady Gaga to cancel parts of her tours in the past. Although fibromyalgia can be controlled with medication, there is currently no cure.
2. Selena Gomez – Lupus
In 2015, Selena Gomez revealed that she had been battling with lupus. Lupus is an inflammatory condition that can be difficult for doctors to diagnose since symptoms can range in type and severity. Gomez’s condition is more severe than most, and it caused her to have to undergo a kidney transplant. Since then, she has become an advocate for lupus awareness and strives to eliminate stigma and misconceptions surrounding the condition.
3. Avril Lavigne – Lyme Disease
Avril Lavigne revealed that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2015 after a tick bite the previous spring. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection contracted from tick bites that can cause a wide range of symptoms from fatigue and muscle pain to memory loss. After being misdiagnosed multiple times, Lavigne was bedridden for almost two years while dealing with the harsh effects of the disease. Although Lyme disease never fully goes away after being contracted, Lavigne has reported that she feels much stronger and is able to better manage her symptoms.
4. Halsey – Endometriosis
Halsey has been very open in the past regarding their struggles with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a very painful condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of the uterus. In order to treat her condition, Halsey underwent several surgeries in 2017 that left them feeling physically and mentally exhausted. Now, they are a staunch advocate for raising awareness on the impact endometriosis has on the lives of women.
5. Missy Elliot – Graves’ Disease
In 2011, Missy Elliot revealed that she had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease is a thyroid condition that causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones. Although easily treated with medication, this disease can become life-threatening if not properly handled due to its attacks on the nervous system. Elliot reported that her condition caused her hair to fall out and her nervous system to shut down prior to receiving treatment to manage her symptoms.