What is Lyme disease? Inside Justin Timberlake's health struggles
Justin Timberlake has revealed that he is battling Lyme disease, a condition that had silently impacted his recent 'Forget Tomorrow' tour. In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on July 31, the 44-year-old singer and actor opened up about his health struggles, calling the illness 'relentlessly debilitating' and explaining why some of his recent performances may have seemed off to fans. Justin Timberlake Reveals Lyme Disease Diagnosis
After weeks of speculation about his energy levels and performances on tour, Timberlake disclosed that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease during the tour itself. The Grammy-winning artist admitted he had considered canceling the tour due to severe symptoms, including nerve pain, fatigue, and physical exhaustion. However, he chose to push through because performing brought him a sense of peace and joy.
He clarified that his post wasn't meant to gain sympathy, but rather to share the reality of what he has been going through behind the scenes. Timberlake also emphasized that many people had misinterpreted his onstage behavior and low energy without knowing the true cause. What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi , typically spread through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. It's most common in wooded or grassy areas, especially in the summer and fall months. Common Symptoms Include: Extreme fatigue
Fever and chills
Joint and muscle pain
Headaches
Nerve pain or numbness
A distinctive bull's-eye rash (in some cases)
If not caught early, Lyme disease can lead to long-term complications affecting the nervous system, joints, and heart. Timberlake Joins a List of Celebs Affected
Justin Timberlake isn't the first star to speak publicly about battling Lyme disease. Other celebrities like Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain, and Bella Hadid have all shared their own struggles with the illness. Timberlake said he was inspired by others who've opened up and now wants to do the same, hoping his story encourages more compassion and awareness.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash Justin TimberlakeLyme disease
Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at BusinessUpturn.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
What is Lyme disease, and does Justin Timberlake have it?
Justin Timberlake isn't the only person to recently contract tick-borne Lyme disease. New Jersey had the third-most cases of Lyme disease in the nation as recently as 2022, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. And with Lyme disease outbreaks on the rise throughout the country, here's what you need to know about Lyme disease and steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is caused by tick bites but isn't spread person-to-person, noted the the New Jersey Department of Health. The Lyme disease-causing ticks thrive in woodsy areas, such as much of New Jersey. What are Lyme disease symptoms? The three stages of Lyme disease have different symptoms, according to PennMedicine: Stage 1: chills; fevers; joint and muscle pain Stage 2: Nerve numbness; facial paralysis; fainting spells; meningitis Stage 3: fluid buildup in joints; neuropathy How you can prevent, treat Lyme disease The New Jersey Department of Health advises you to avoid wooded areas with dense shrubs and leaf litter, wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, perform tick checks and mowing lawns frequently will help you avoid tick bites and Lyme disease. "After spending time in tick-infested areas, ask a partner to check you for ticks in areas on your body that you can't see very well," advised the Harvard Medical School. "The common bite areas are the back of the knee, the groin, under the arms, under the breasts in women, behind the ears, and at the back of the neck." Justin Timberlake confirms Lyme disease diagnosis Superstar pop singer Justin Timberlake told his fans in an instagram post that his Lyme disease diagnosis nearly forced him off tour. "Among other things, I've been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease - which I don't say so you feel bad for me - but to shed some light on what I've been up against behind the scenes," read a portion of Timberlake's lengthy Instagram post. "If you've experienced this disease or know someone who has, then you're aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically. "When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness," Timberlake's post continued. "I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out. I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I'm so glad I kept going." According to Business Insider, Timberlake is just the most recent celebrity to come down with Lyme disease. In 2020, both Justin Bieber and Amy Schumer reportedly confirmed their Lyme disease diagnosis, and Avril Lavigne was reportedly bedridden by Lyme disease in 2014. Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region. This article originally appeared on What is Lyme disease, and did Justin Timberlake say he had it? Solve the daily Crossword
4 hours ago
Dietitian explains fibermaxxing trend: What it is and how to properly incorporate fiber in your diet
The latest dietary health trend sweeping social media, known as "fibermaxxing," has people pondering the age old question: Can you have too much of a good thing? Millions of videos on TikTok using the hashtag #fibermaxxing have flooded TikTok feeds with an overflow of information. So to help better explain what it actually means and how it works, "Good Morning America" spoke to registered dietitian Steph Grasso, who said it's a trend she can personally get behind. What is fibermaxxing? Grasso, who regularly informs her more than 2 million followers on TikTok and nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram about proper nutrition habits, recently tapped into the viral trend on Instagram, highlighting the potential issues people may face by increasing fiber too quickly and overwhelming the gut. "Fibermaxxing is slang for eating tons of fiber, either meeting or exceeding the daily recommendations," Grasso said. "Protein has always gotten the spotlight, but with colon cancer rates increasing, people are becoming more aware of their low fiber intake and trying to maximize it." Whenever she's posted about fiber, Grasso said her comment section seems to fill up with replies like, "Fiber doesn't agree with me" or "Fiber makes me bloat way too much." "And I think fiber gets that reputation," she said. "Last year, I claimed 2024 as the year of fiber and made my content mostly about it -- trying to influence people to increase their intake," she explained. "I highlighted, and still highlight, beans as a convenient and affordable way to get in fiber. I think the most common misconception is, 'Fiber causes gas and bloating, so I should avoid it.'" While she explained that fiber can indeed cause gas and bloating, that doesn't mean you should avoid it. "That's your body's way of telling you it's feeling way too overwhelmed, because it's never digested that much fiber before," she explained. "Sudden fiber increases, especially if fiber isn't usually part of your diet, can cause temporary gastrointestinal symptoms because your gut bacteria just isn't used to fermenting it." How to properly increase fiber intake "If you're trying to add more fiber to your diet, I recommend increasing it slowly and gradually," Grasso said. "If you never eat fiber, set a goal for 5 grams of fiber a day. Then in the second week, try 10 grams per day and increase by 5 grams each week as tolerated." She also noted that as people are increasing their fiber, they should also be "drinking plenty of water," because "fiber needs water to bulk and aid digestion." The U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest at least 25 grams of fiber per day for women under 50 and at least 31 grams daily for men under 50. Easy ingredients to add more fiber to your diet "Beans, beans, beans," Grasso said with gusto, discussing the best foods to add more fiber to your diet. "They are so convenient, affordable and versatile. One cup has about 6-8 grams of fiber." Whole grains are another high-fiber food group that Grasso suggests adding -- think "quinoa, oats and barley." "Or snacking on fruit and nuts can increase your fiber intake," she said. "And of course, making half your plate veggies during lunch and dinner will help meet your fiber goals." Health benefits of fiber While Grasso said she could pen an entire article solely dedicated to the studied health benefits of fiber, she summed it up simply. "[Soluble] fiber supports digestive health by feeding beneficial gut bacteria. It also binds to LDL, [or] "bad" cholesterol, in the digestive tract and helps remove it, lowering your cholesterol levels," Grasso explained. "Plus, it slows the absorption of glucose -- sugar -- helping stabilize blood sugar levels and reducing post-meal spikes." No one food group can be responsible for better or worse overall health -- they should be combined with a well-rounded diet and other healthy lifestyle habits like exercise, Grasso said -- and anyone looking to change their diet should first consult with a physician before making a major change like upping your fiber intake. ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton recently weighed in on fibermaxxing for "GMA3." "This is a trend I can stick by," Sutton said. "The majority of us are talking about protein, but very few of us are talking about fiber. It's the one nutrient can extend your life. And 95% of Americans are not getting the recommended amount of fiber." To help people visualize how much fiber they should be getting, Sutton said the daily recommendation in terms of food is equivalent to about seven apples or 11 bananas. But he added, importantly, "this is not where you should get all of your fiber." Like Grasso, Sutton said to utilize beans and legumes by adding them to a salad, or try a half cup of nuts for about 8 grams of fiber. Two to three handfuls of vegetables is about 8 grams of fiber, he said. If you want to kick start the day with a lot of fiber, Sutton suggested adding chia seeds and fruits to morning oats for about 20 grams of fiber. "Fiber is so much more than helping us with digestion. That helps to regulate your sugar and protects you against diabetes, but it binds toxins and reduces inflammation, and that helps us to reduce our risk of colon cancer, and it helps us to get rid of cholesterol. There are so many benefits of fiber, and so few of us are getting it."
Los Angeles Times
5 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Relentlessly debilitating,' the chronic symptoms of Lyme disease
Grammy award-winning pop star Justin Timberlake, 44, recently took to Instagram to share his diagnosis of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that he said was, 'relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.' His statement comes on the heels of criticism from fans who felt he was under-performing during his recent world tour. 'When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure,' the post stated. 'But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.' Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterial species that can spread to people and animals from the bite of a deer tick — also called a black-legged tick — carrying the bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. Experts say ticks that carry the bacteria live throughout most of the United States, although the incidence of Lyme disease is far less prevalent in California than it is in the American Northeast, Midwest and mid-Atlantic states. (The disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where an outbreak was first identified in the 1970s.) In California, western black-legged ticks are carriers of Lyme disease and are commonly found in northern coastal counties and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to the California Department of Public Health. Between 2013 and 2019, there were 904 new cases of Lyme disease in the state. During that time period, the average rates of Lyme disease were highest in Santa Cruz (4 cases per 100,000 people), Humboldt (about 3 cases per 100,000 people) and Sonoma Counties (about 2 cases per 100,000 people). Lyme disease often goes undiagnosed 'due to the breadth and migratory nature of its symptoms—ranging from headaches and fatigue to joint pain, body aches, balance issues, memory loss, myocarditis, anxiety, insomnia, and depression,' the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a nonprofit that studies the disease, stated in a post on X. Most people completely recover from the disease when treated with a two- to four-week course of antibiotics. Others have prolonged symptoms of fatigue, body, aches or difficulty thinking, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When a bacteria-infected tick bites a person, or animal, the bacteria is released from the mouth of the tick and into the bloodstream, where it can then spread throughout the body, according to Bay Area Lyme Foundation. If a tick becomes attached to your skin, the CDC recommends you remove it as soon as possible. Consult your health care provider if you show any symptoms of the disease. Your body's reaction to the infection varies from person to person and symptoms show up in stages. Some people with Lyme disease don't have symptoms in the early stages of the infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common symptoms of Lyme disease are fever, rash, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat, and arthritis. These symptoms can happen in stages. During the first stage, which occurs 3 to 30 days after a tick bite, a person can develop a circular rash around the site of the bite. The rash can become clear in the center, and resemble a target or bull's-eye. During this first stage, infected people can experience a fever, headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains or swollen lymph nodes. In the second stage, which occurs three to 10 weeks after a bite, symptoms can escalate. They include: Symptoms in the third stage of the disease, which begins two to 12 months after a tick bite, include arthritis in large joints, particularly the knees. Pain, swelling or stiffness may last for a long time or can come and go. People with prolonged symptoms of Lyme disease, called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, usually get better over time without additional antibiotics, but it can take many months to feel completely well, according to the CDC. The cause of pro-longed symptoms is currently unknown. Ticks are commonly found in outdoor areas with grass, shrubs, rocks, logs and fallen leaves. You don't have to avoid these areas, but should instead wear protective clothing to prevent a tick from latching onto your skin. Before you go on your outdoor activity, plan to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants. With your protective clothes on, apply insect repellent to garments and exposed skin, according to the state public health department. During your hike, check yourself and any pets for ticks that might be crawling on you. If you do see a tick, remove it right away. When you return home from your excursion, inspect your clothes, body and scalp for any ticks. Toss the tick-free clothes in the laundry and take a shower. If you found a tick on your clothes put clothing items in a hot dryer for 10 minutes, that will kill the insect. The California Department of Public Health recommends you continue to check your body for any sign of ticks for three days after being outside in areas where ticks reside.
