What Is Lyme Disease? Exploring Bella Hadid’s Struggle With This Chronic Illness 

Bella Hadid is not just a supermodel gracing runways and magazine covers—she’s also a warrior. Behind the glitz and glam, she’s been dealing with something way less glamorous: Lyme disease. 

Hadid has been fighting this chronic illness since she was just 17. She has also taken to Instagram multiple times, sharing her journey and some of her medical records. Last year, the supermodel posted medical records and spoke candidly about the struggles she’s faced over the years.

Living with Lyme disease is no walk in the park. But through it all, she’s been a fighter, inspiring her fans to keep pushing through tough times. The Princess of Nazareth even shared that her Lyme disease flares up in ways that can mess with her entire body. 

Despite these challenges, Bel is determined to keep fighting and to raise awareness about the realities of this illness. In a world where her life seems glamorous, her honesty sheds light on a different side of her story—a story many people can relate to. 

What Exactly is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. These ticks carry the Borrelia bacteria and can be found chilling in grassy or wooded areas. 

In the U.S., Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness, and according to the CDC, there are about 30,000 reported cases each year. But—the actual number could be as high as 476,000. That’s a lot of people in the Lyme club.

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Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary but typically manifest in three stages. The first stage usually shows up between three to 30 days after being bitten. You might see a rash that looks like a target, along with fever, headache, and fatigue. 

If you ignore it, things can get really messy, with symptoms progressing to joint pain and nerve issues. Bella Hadid is just one of many who have had to deal with these wild symptoms, and she’s been open about her struggles to raise awareness.

In one of her Instagram posts, she wrote in the caption, “The little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself.” In her post, Hadid shared old medical records from 2013 showing symptoms like major fatigue, joint pain, and chest pain.

She also posted pics of her getting IV treatment, since that’s a common way to treat Lyme disease. The 28-year-old called the pics “positive” because they capture the “most enlightening experience” of her life. She gave a shoutout to her team, agents, doctors, and nurses for all their support.

How the Hadid Family Face Lyme Disease Together

Bella Hadid, her brother Anwar Hadid, and their mom Yolanda Hadid have all been in the Lyme fight together. Yolanda was diagnosed first and has been open about her journey, sharing her experiences on shows like Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

The Hadid family was diagnosed back in 2013 and has been on a holistic health kick ever since. They have turned their battles with Lyme disease into a source of strength, supporting each other through treatments. Yolanda even keeps track of all the medical details like a pro.

But instead of letting it drag them down, they’ve become advocates for others facing similar struggles. Similarly, Bella wants her fans to know that even though she’s dealing with health issues, she’s still living her best life.