Featured Image Credit: Instagram/bellahadid
Topics: News, US News, Bella Hadid, Celebrity
Kit Roberts
Bella Hadid has taken to social media to share a brave post from her hospital bed.
The star suffers from a condition which affects a lot of celebrities, and can have debilitating long-term effects.
Many people were left worried at the pictures posted on Wednesday (17 September), as Bella appeared very unwell in a number of snaps.
"I’m sorry I always go MIA," the 28-year-old captioned the Instagram post. "I love you guys."
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In the comments, Bella's sister, Gigi Hadid, urged her to 'stay strong', while their mom, Yolanda Hadid, called her a 'warrior' and alluded to the illness.
Bella is one of many who have a condition which seems to disproportionately affect celebrities, though it's not clear exactly why.
This condition is Lyme disease, a bacterial infection which is passed on by tick bites.
While not all ticks carry the infection it is still very important to be aware of them when out and about in places which have a high risk.
This includes wooded areas and grasslands where ticks will suspend themselves from leaves, branches, or grass and grab onto a passing mammal, which could be an unwitting hiker.
There is a reason that 'burrowed in like a tick' has become a popular expression - once attached ticks are very difficult to safely remove.
Lyme disease does not generally start to manifest itself until a few weeks or even months after a bite, with key symptoms including an oval-shaped rash around the bite area as well as feeling feverish.
If you are bitten by a tick it's important to be aware of any symptoms as the earlier the condition is caught, the more effective treatment is likely to be.
Bella is one famous person with Lyme disease, but others who have publicly confirmed they have the condition include Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, and Miranda Hart.
Some people diagnosed with Lyme disease can go on to have symptoms including tiredness, aches, and loss of energy for years after their diagnosis and treatment.
Bella has previously opened up about how having the condition has impacted her, saying that the 'excruciating pain' leaves her struggling to carry out basic tasks.
"It’s hard to take a shower most days, which I promise guys, if you’re reading this, I shower every day," the star told Vogue in May. "But sometimes, if I have one day off, if I can get in the shower and make myself breakfast, I see that as an accomplishment."
It's not clear why so many famous people have Lyme disease, but one reason could be a greater awareness around medical conditions due to their access to healthcare.
Another possibility is that the neighbourhoods where celebs often live, such as the Hamptons, appear to have higher rates of the condition.