Tag: health

Categories
Animals health

A squirrel in San Rafael, California is attacking people

a-squirrel-in-san-rafael,-california-is-attacking-people




With their bushy tails, squirrels are often viewed as much cuter than most of their rodent kin; beauty privilege at work again. But at least one wild brown squirrel in San Rafael, California is reminding citizens not to be fooled by its friendly Disney-critter appearance. The little guy is attacking people and has already sent at least two victims to the hospital for wound care. Posters have been deployed throughout the town with the header “Attack Squirrel Beware!!!!” followed by a picture of a squirrel mid-flight looking straight at the camera like it’s a bowl of nuts. (Note: the photo is believed to be a stock image and not a direct representation of the assailant still at large.) Then the first line of the notice reads, “This is not a joke more than 5 people have been attacked by a very mean squirrel.” Of course it’s not a joke… yet it could be said that the particular image selected for the posters might strike some as humorous, but in a menacing fashion. Speaking for a friend.

Marin county’s humane society lays the blame on humans: “We’ve received at least two reports of people being attacked by a squirrel in a neighborhood of San Rafael. This behavior is unusual for squirrels and is likely the result of someone feeding it,” said Lisa Bloch, the director of marketing and communications at Marin Humane, in a statement. “When wildlife is fed by humans, they can lose their natural fear and act more emboldened. This is why we remind people that feeding wildlife can have negative consequences — for both people and the animals,” Bloch added.

A survivor speaks: Joan Heblack was enjoying a peaceful walk through Lucas Valley in San Rafael, when the rodent launched itself at her and proceeded to claw and bite her, she told ABC News affiliate, KGO-TV. “It came out of nowhere. I didn’t see him running up to me at all,” Heblack said. “It clamped onto my leg. The tail was flying up here. I was like, ‘Get it off me, get off me!’ I didn’t want to touch it.” Heblack said her injuries were so severe, she went to the ER to seek treatment.

And another: Isabel Campoy said she was another victim of the vicious squirrel and was hospitalized from her wounds after coming into contact with the rodent on a walk. “Squirrel went from the floor tried to jump up to my face, I tried to protect my face, my arm was completely overcome by squirrel,” Campoy told KGO. “Finally it jumped off, by then I was full of blood, I run to the emergency room.”

Seriously, don’t feed wild animals: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agrees that feeding wild animals is destructive, as it may cause them to react negatively when they are not fed. “Wild animals that gain regular access to human or domestic pet food slowly get used to being in busy areas and seeing humans. Over time, these usually calm and docile animals may become aggressive and cause harm to people in the area,” the agency says on its website.

Squirrels don’t spread rabies: There have been no reported cases of rabies transmission from squirrels to humans in the United States, as they do not spread rabies, according to the LA County Department of Public Health.

[From ABC News]

“…feeding wild animals is destructive, as it may cause them to react negatively when they are not fed.” This principle doesn’t exclusively apply to wild animals. Again, speaking for a friend. But yeah, not at all surprised that at the end of the day the source of the problem is… people. Once more: don’t feed wildlife! It’s a game of FAFO that the animals will always win — just ask that woman in Washington State who fed raccoons for years, then woke up one morning to find 100 of them in her yard.

That fact about squirrels not spreading rabies took me and CB by surprise, but it’s true. While no one (in the US) is on record as having gotten rabies from a squirrel, some public health boards warn it may be a concern if the squirrel is acting “abnormally,” and also recommend getting a tetanus shot if bitten regardless of the squirrel’s behavior. To the citizens of San Rafael: first and foremost be safe and aware of your surroundings. Then, can we maybe stop slandering this woodland creature? It wasn’t born mean, it was driven to this! By us!! Now it’s facing a grim winter where its kids will only get two acorns for Christmas instead of 30.

According to local news outlets near San Rafael, there have been at least two reports of people claiming to have been attacked by a squirrel and seeking emergency medical care. (Photo: Joan Heblack/AP)https://t.co/NnN1FNJjNz pic.twitter.com/tVRoOZyaCr

— KSHB 41 News (@KSHB41) September 26, 2025

Photos credit: pixabay and Chait Goli on Pexels

Categories
health Sheryl Lee Ralph

Sheryl Lee Ralph is encouraging people over 50 to get vaccinated for shingles

sheryl-lee-ralph-is-encouraging-people-over-50-to-get-vaccinated-for-shingles




Sheryl Lee Ralph is promoting pharmaceutical company GSK’s THRIVE@50 campaign, which encourages people who are 50 and older to get their shingles vaccine. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox. If you’ve had chickenpox as a child, then the virus is laying dormant in your body and can reactivate later in life, presenting as shingles. Sheryl, who is 68, sat down with People to talk about why it’s crucial to get vaccinated, the importance of listening to your doctor, and her attitude about health in general.

“People think, oh shingles, it’s no big deal. Trust me, shingles is a painful blistering rash and you don’t have to get it,” Ralph tells PEOPLE.

She points out that 99% of adults 50 years and older already have the virus that causes shingles inside their body, but not all of them will develop it. The actress says using her platform to raise awareness was a no-brainer because she witnessed her grandmother deal with the infection.

“I remember what it was like when my grandmother suffered from shingles. For some people, it might come for a week or so. For her, it was a few weeks. And just seeing her with that pain, it’s something that never, ever left my mind,” she recalls. “And that was one of the reasons I thought, hmm, this is important to get involved with, to have this conversation, to encourage people to talk with their doctor or their pharmacist about their risk for developing shingles and to also talk about prevention.”

For Ralph, a campaign about thriving while aging fits perfectly with her current phase of life.

“I always tell people, no, no, no. Surviving won’t do, especially not for me. It’s about thriving,” she explains. “It’s about realizing, wow, I have lived this long and I am still living. In fact, the best is yet to come. While I am alive, I’m going to take advantage of every moment, every breath, every step. I am able to take everything that I can enjoy in this world. And why not?”

Over the years, Ralph has maintained that “health is our greatest wealth,” and the multi-hyphenate star admits that too many people don’t pay attention to it until it’s gone. That’s why her biggest piece of advice is listening to everything the doctor says — no objections.

“I pay attention to my doctor,” she stresses. “When the doctor says, ‘Drink water,’ drink water. The doctor says, ‘Lose 20 pounds, it might bring your blood pressure down,’ lose the weight. When the doctor says, ‘Keep it moving,’ keep it moving. Take a walk.”

The Dreamgirls alum tells PEOPLE that she gladly accepts those who commend the results of her hard work.

“I just take it. People say, ‘Oh my goodness, you look good.’ I say, yes, I do,” she says with a laugh. “And you know what? Sometimes people say life is like a masquerade. What’s the mask that you want to wear? Mine is really my joy.”

[From People]

”People say, ‘Oh my goodness, you look good.’ I say, yes, I do.” I love that Sheryl is so openly positive about her appearance. This totally fits with her “no negative body talk” rule on the Abbott Elementary set. Sheryl has always urged people to live their best life. I’m glad that she is thriving and trying to reach others. I can’t believe that I am saying this, but since we are in such crazy, anti-science times, I appreciate Sheryl telling fans that it’s okay to trust and listen to what your doctor says.

That’s also why it’s so important that she’s raising awareness for the shingles vaccine. We are living in a scary time in which safe and effective vaccines are being restricted by an anti-science government. As of now, the shingles vaccine is still recommended by the CDC for age 50 and older. I had a former coworker get shingles at age 57, and she was miserable. She was very frank with the rest of us about how painful it was. She regretted not getting the vaccine (she planned on getting it but never got around to it), but her husband got it as a result. As of 2022, only 30% of eligible adults got vaccinated against shingles. I hope Sheryl’s campaign reaches a lot of people who are on the fence and convinces them to get it.

Photos credit: Jennifer Graylock-Graylock.com/Avalon, William T. Wade Jr./Photography/Avalon, MediaPunch/Backgrid

Categories
health Insects Science

Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

why-do-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-than-others?




I have always been one of those lucky people (she said sarcastically) favored by mosquitoes. Of course it didn’t help that we had a persistent mosquito problem in the house I grew up in. It’s hard getting those bites as a kid and hearing your parents say “Don’t scratch!” when that’s ALL you want to do. But I think I grew to hate even more the experience of lying in bed, almost asleep, and then being distressingly woken up by the nasal buzzing of someone looking for an evening snack. My mother’s sweet, if cutesy, explanation to Little Girl Kismet was that I got bitten so much cause I was so delicious. So it’s crazy to learn now that she was actually in the ballpark of the real science! Blood type is a leading factor in who mosquitoes choose to torment feast from, among some others.

On the prowl for the big O: Blood type is determined by genetics, and each blood type is based on the different sets of specific proteins, called antigens, on the surface of red blood cells. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. While there are no firm conclusions as to which blood type is more attractive to mosquitoes, several studies have suggested people with type O are most appetizing to mosquitoes. A 2019 study observed mosquito feeding behavior when presented with different blood type samples, and found mosquitoes fed from the type O feeder more than any other. A 2004 study also found that mosquitoes land on blood group O secretors (83.3%) significantly more than group A secretors (46.5%).

Clothing color matters: Mosquitoes are highly visual hunters when it comes to finding a human to bite. This means movement and dark clothing colors like black, navy and red can stand out to a mosquito. Research has shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to the color black, but there has been little additional research into why this is the case.

The little buggers track our breathing: One of the quickest ways mosquitoes can sniff out a person is through the carbon dioxide emitted when we breathe. According to research published in the journal Chemical Senses, mosquitoes use an organ called a maxillary palp for carbon dioxide detection and can sense it from 164 feet away. Because carbon dioxide is a huge attractor, people who emit more of it — larger individuals and people who are breathing heavily when working out — are more attractive to a mosquito.

Odor & sweat also attracts them: Mosquitoes can find people to bite by smelling substances present on human skin and in sweat, including lactic acid, uric acid and ammonia. A new study found that mosquitoes are attracted to compounds called carboxylic acids that every human produces through sebum, a waxy coating, on their skin. The sebum is eaten by the millions of beneficial microorganisms found on human skin, which produces more carboxylic acid — and will, in turn, produce an odor similar to cheese or smelly feet that appears to attract mosquitoes. Lead researchers on this study said mosquitoes are sensitive to human odor and that even perfumes or colognes can’t mask it. Researchers are still learning why certain body odors are more attractive to mosquitoes, but they do know that genetics, bacteria on the skin and exercise all play a factor.

Hold my beer! In a small study, mosquitoes were observed to land on participants more frequently after consuming a small amount of beer. But before you swear off outdoor brews, know that the study only had 14 participants, and it found that mosquitoes may only be marginally more attracted to people who have been drinking beer.

[From CNET]

Yeah, guess who’s Type O? But actually, I’ve had a surprising yet very much welcome dearth of bites this year, so I’m not complaining! (much) I didn’t even realize it until last Friday when I was walking outside at dusk — dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes are most active, so the worst times of day to be out — and my arm started itching and I realized, “Oh, crap, I got a bite.” But that quickly morphed into, “Wait a minute, I’ve barely had any this summer!” After reading this article, I have a better understanding of what’s working for and against me. Obviously I’m just sh-t outta luck with my blood type. Ditto with the fact that I exhale outdoors, as well as sweat and give off odors from the microorganisms I’m apparently hosting. But I don’t drink beer! Plus (and I’m so proud of this one) my clothing is a veritable kaleidoscope of technicolor! Although the main concern with clothing should be long sleeves/pants for full coverage, and the gold star for blocking bites is insect repellent. And finally, at long last, a win for those of us not exercising! Outside, that is. Not exercising outside.

Photos credit: Flávia Vicentini, Anastasia Lashkevich on Pexels, Holly Mandarich on Unsplash

Categories
food health

FDA warns public not to eat possibly radioactive shrimp from Walmart

fda-warns-public-not-to-eat-possibly-radioactive-shrimp-from-walmart




I’m still thinking about the crazy food influencer car crash story. Obviously my sincerest healing thoughts go out to the YouTube hosts as they recover from being rained on with shards of broken glass. But I’m also me, and glutton that I am, I’m still thinking about those shrimp and grits. It’s been years since the last time I had real shrimp and grits! (I had a Dolly Parton frozen meal of the dish recently; the packaging was adorable and I adore Dolly, that’s all I’ll say.) Part of what makes shrimp such a good protein is the way it takes on flavor so well. One seasoning I absolutely draw the line at, however, is “radioactive,” which is why I will be steering clear of Great Value brand raw frozen shrimp sold at Walmart, per the FDA’s warning this week that inspections at ports found contamination of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted the FDA about possible Cesium-137, or Cs-137, detected in shipping containers at four U.S. ports, the FDA said Tuesday in a press release. Testing on frozen shrimp from the distributor, Indonesia’s BMS Foods, also tested positive, the FDA said.

However, no shrimp that has tested positive for Cesium-137 has entered the U.S. food supply, according to the FDA.

The FDA is still recommending a recall on all products from BMS Foods that were shipped after the company’s shipping containers tested positive for Cesium-137, even though the products themselves have not tested positive.

The following Great Value brand frozen shrimp products should not be eaten, sold or served:


*Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005540-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027


*Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005538-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027


*Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005539-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027

“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away,” the FDA said in its press release.

The FDA said it is working with distributors and retailers that received the shrimp from BMS Foods “to recommend that firms conduct a recall,” according to the press release.

The FDA said it determined the shrimp from BMS Foods violates the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act “in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern.”

All products from the company are now banned from coming into the U.S. “until the firm has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation,” the FDA said.

Cesium is a soft-flexible, silvery-white metal that becomes liquid near room temperature, but easily bonds with chlorides to create a crystalline powder, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

External exposure to large amounts of Cesium-137, according to the EPA, can cause burns, acute radiation sickness and even death.

[From ABC News]

Oh hell nope to the isotope! My Atomicology degree from Wikipedia University taught me that Cesium-137 is a commonly-produced fission product from the nuclear fission of Uranium-235, and to this day is the main source of radiation in Chernobyl’s 30-kilometer zone of alienation. So in layman’s terms, nothing we want anywhere near our food and water! This is why having a dedicated agency in our government to run food safety inspections is so vital, and why we should all be up in arms that HHS Secretary Brain Worm is out to gut the FDA’s lifesaving work. Thank goodness none of the contaminated shrimp entered the food supply yet. So once again, folks, it’s Great Value raw frozen shrimp that we have to avoid for the time being.

Lastly, did you notice how the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act used the term “insanitary” conditions? Did any other of my fellow intelligent bitches read that and think it should have been unsanitary instead of insanitary? I honestly did not think “insanitary” was a real word, and was prepared to offer up my own cheeky definition that it’s a portmanteau of insane with unsanitary, referring to cases of poor hygiene and mental health. But no, Merriam–Webster tells me it’s a legitimate word. I sit corrected.

Fallout photo via Imgur/RabbiHimself, Walmart, Cats Coming on Pexels and Shark Tale/Fandango Movie Clips

Categories
Cynthia Bailey health Linsey Davis Tamar Braxton

ABC News’ Linsey Davis’s fibroids made her so bloated people thought she was pregnant

abc-news’-linsey-davis’s-fibroids-made-her-so-bloated-people-thought-she-was-pregnant




We’ve recently heard from Lupita Nyong’o and Venus Williams about their health battles with uterine fibroids, which affect so many women and have a much higher incidence among Black women. Venus had a myomectomy to remove fibroids about a year ago (she only revealed this recently, after kicking ass on the court again) and Lupita has launched a foundation for awareness and advocacy for fibroid sufferers.

ABC News anchor Linsey Davis did a televised special this week about fibroids with Tamar Braxton and Cynthia Bailey. Linsey said that her bloating was so pronounced that people speculated she was pregnant. This is unfortunately relatable to me. Linsey has scheduled a hysterectomy after undergoing a myomectomy years ago. Her fibroids grew back after the myomectomy, causing countless health problems. Here’s a quick description from USA Today and the full special is below.

“ABC News” anchor Linsey Davis is revealing for the first time her yearslong struggle with uterine fibroids.

The “World News Tonight” weekend anchor explained during a “ABC News Live Prime” conversation with singer Tamar Braxton and model and actress Cynthia Bailey on Monday, Aug. 12, that she has powered through painful and severe fatigue behind the scenes due to fibroids.

Davis hopes to help women by revealing her fibroid battle. “I feel like if there is an 80% instance in anyone’s health, it should be a priority,” she said.

She also said a hysterectomy was the right path forward for her.

“I guess I just want to be final. You just want to be finished,” Davis said. “It causes me enough angst and grief, and planning my day differently, accordingly, that I really feel like I’m ready to be finished with this journey.”

[From USA Today]

This segment was hard for me to take as I could relate to everyone’s stories. I spent years blaming myself for how tired I was and how my fitness was suffering. I’m 52 and had a hysterectomy last November after describing my symptoms for at least a decade to countless OBGYNs who dismissed me. Before I had an ablation in 2019, I would have to stay in bed for a day or more with every period. I would get constant UTIs and had stress incontinence because my uterus was pressing on my bladder. There were weeks last year when the pain was as intense as labor. It wasn’t until I found my current doctor that I was quickly diagnosed with adenomyosis as I met every criteria. The hysterectomy was not an easy procedure and the recovery has been slow going, but I’m so glad I did it. They found a lime-sized fibroid on the outside of my uterus and multiple fibroids inside, confirming adenomyosis. My uterus was over twice the normal size and, like Linsey, I often looked pregnant. I appreciate it so much when famous women open up about their health. So many of us have extreme pain from fibroids, endometriosis and adenomyosis that we’re just expected to endure as part of being a woman.

Photos credit: Jennifer Graylock-Graylock.com/Avalon and screenshots from YouTube

Categories
health politics Robert Kennedy Jr. Science

RFK Jr. slashes $500 million in contracts for mRNA vaccines

rfk-jr.-slashes-$500-million-in-contracts-for-mrna-vaccines




We have as the head of Health and Human Services a man who loves drinking and swimming in disease-infested fluids, nearly wiped out Samoa with his anti-vaxx dingbat propaganda, and, let it never be forgotten, has a dead worm in his so-called brain. The Republican committee chairman who oversaw RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearing is a doctor, and still let RFK through. Ever since then, Secretary Brain Worm has been busy gutting the personnel of all our health agencies, dismantling the advisory committees that determine which vaccines to develop for the coming season, maligning people with autism, and ushering the US towards the worst measles outbreak this century. But there’s no rest for the wearisome; on Tuesday, RFK announced he was canceling 22 contracts worth about $500 million related to mRNA vaccines. The projects had previously been funded by HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Actual experts, of which RFK is not, are calling the cuts dangerous.

It’s like our fire departments were just disbanded: “This isn’t just about vaccines,” Rick Bright, who directed BARDA from 2016 to 2020, said in a text message. “It’s about whether we’ll be ready when the next crisis hits. Cutting mRNA development now puts every American at greater risk. The Covid pandemic showed us what’s possible when science moves fast,” he added. “Dismantling that momentum now is like disbanding the fire department because the fire’s out.”

RFK croaks about mRNA: “After reviewing the science and consulting top experts at NIH and FDA, HHS has determined that mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits for these respiratory viruses,” Kennedy said in a video announcement on X. “Let me be absolutely clear, HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them,” he added. “That’s why we’re moving beyond the limitations of mRNA for respiratory viruses and investing in better solutions.”

A fact check by Moderna: HHS said in its initial press release on Tuesday that BARDA was terminating an award to the University of Texas Medical Branch and the biotechnology company Moderna to develop an mRNA-based vaccine for H5N1, the strain of bird flu that has infected dozens of people in the United States. But a Moderna spokesperson said on Wednesday the contract was canceled in May. HHS has since amended its press release to say that it is “restructuring” collaborations that affect Moderna’s research on nucleic acid-based vaccines.

RFK doesn’t understand how mRNA works at all: “That’s exactly why mRNA is so valuable: It’s the only platform where you can actually update the vaccine really quickly,” said Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford Medicine. Terminating mRNA contracts under BARDA is “a very misguided, irresponsible and I would say reckless move,” Scott said. “It really does reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of how vaccines work and how a vaccine against a respiratory virus in particular should be expected to work.”

Back to old technology: Kennedy said Tuesday that the BARDA funding would be shifted “toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate,” such as whole-virus vaccines, which use weakened or deactivated versions of viruses to trigger immune responses. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said whole-virus vaccines have been around since the late 1800s, noting that “we make safer, better vaccines” today due to technological advances. The slashing of mRNA contracts is “yet another policy decision engineered by our Secretary of Health and Human Services that is not science-based,” Offit said. “That’s a dangerous thing to do.”

[From NBC News]

You guys, the sycophants running HHS’s comms can’t even keep track of their misdeeds in their press releases. HHS: “We’re terminating Moderna’s mRNA bird flu vaccine!” Moderna: “You did that three months ago.” I know it’s not the worst crime HHS is committing here, but it’s killing me nonetheless. RFK has shown he doesn’t have any understanding of how the mRNA technology works — twisting the fact that mRNA is mutation-specific into somehow being a bad thing is just plain asinine. Yes, it’s specific to certain strains; AND it’s the most easily updated vaccine technology we have, that can be reprogrammed to combat new strains as they arrive. Plus how rich is it that RFK is now trying to pass himself off as supportive of “safer, broader” vaccines? Ultimately, though, I don’t even buy it. I think singling out mRNA is just his first move towards achieving his dream of tanking vaccines altogether.

But I expect all this from RFK. I’d like to hear what Senator Doctor Bill Cassidy has to say for himself and his ill-advised confirmation of RFK now.

Embed from Getty Images

photos credit: Francis Chung/POOL via CNP/INSTARimages.com, Getty and via Instagram

Categories
health Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake announces that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease

justin-timberlake-announces-that-he-was-diagnosed-with-lyme-disease

This summer, Justin Timberlake has been on tour in Europe, and Europeans have not been pleased with JT’s energy level. It’s been a discussion on social media for weeks, and even Justin’s biggest fans were disappointed by his (at times) “listless” concert performances, especially given the cost of the tickets. Well, Justin heard all of that conversation. On Thursday, he announced that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and that was one of the big reasons why his energy has been so depleted during the tour. From his Instagram:

Well, as these two incredible years come to an end and I look forward to the future, I wanted to write something from the heart. It’s not an easy task to try to contextualize the whirlwind of touring –– but, I will try…This has been the most fun, emotional, gratifying, physically demanding, and, at times, grueling experience. I have been doing this for 30 years (which feels crazy to say) –– and have given all that I have to this. I could not have done it without my family, friends, The TN Kids, and all of YOUR support.

As many of you know, I’m a pretty private person. But as I’m reflecting on the tour and festival tour – I want to tell you a little bit about what’s going on with me.

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. 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. 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.

Not only did I prove my mental tenacity to myself but, I now have so many special moments with all of you that I will never forget. I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself. But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren’t misinterpreted. Sharing all of this with the hope that we can all find a way to be more connected. I’d like to do my part to help others experiencing this disease too.

[From Justin’s IG]

Bella Hadid has spoken at length about her Lyme disease and how having an “invisible illness” causes so much confusion and criticism. People who have Lyme disease can often have extreme fatigue, joint pain, headaches, loss of appetite and on and on. It can go on for years and years for many people. I feel like this answered a lot about Timberlake’s tour. I kind of wonder if there were additional reasons why Justin didn’t just cancel the tour soon after his diagnosis? I can understand how he simply didn’t know how his body would hold up, so maybe he thought it would be rash to cancel the tour. But I also wonder if he was looking at a big financial hit if he canceled. Anyway, I do feel sorry for him. I hope he gets some rest.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.