It’s no secret that TV host Kris Aquino has been struggling with numerous illnesses since before the pandemic. In her latest Kris Aquino health update on Instagram, she shared some aspects about her personal life as well as the current state of her health.
Kris Aquino Health Update: How is She Doing?
Back in 2019, Kris Aquino shared that her doctors had diagnosed her with a form of lupus. She also added that treatment was difficult since she was allergic to the different types of medication that could treat her condition1.
Now, in January 2022, she shared another update on Instagram detailing her recent struggles both medically and personally. In her post2, she shares “My health has continued to deteriorate, and I will soon fly abroad for further diagnostic tests and if needed, do all the treatments and procedures to address my drastic weight loss.” She added that her weight has gone down to just 40 kilos or 88 lbs.
She also shared that the pandemic was especially a difficult time for her. This was because she was also immunocompromised, which meant that getting sick during the pandemic could lead to serious complications.
What are Kris Aquino’s Illnesses?
Kris Aquino spoke about one of her illnesses, known as autoimmune thyroiditis. Another name for this condition is Hashimoto’s disease3. What happens with this disease is that the immune system attacks a person’s thyroid glands. The thyroid is an important organ as it’s responsible for producing numerous hormones that help regulate body functions.
The symptoms of this disease are similar to hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland. Here are some of the symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to low temperatures
- Hair loss
- Muscle aches
- Joint pain
- Depression
- Muscle weakness
These symptoms can also vary from person to person, and can also depend on how serious the condition is.
Treatment for Hashimoto disease involves taking levothyroxine, which acts similarly to the thyroid hormone thyroxine. In some cases, a change in diet, taking supplements, and other types of medication might be prescribed.
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Another condition that she talked about was chronic spontaneous urticaria4. Urticaria is also known as hives; red, itchy welts that are found on the skin.
It’s not uncommon for people to have urticaria, but it usually goes away after some time. In persons with chronic spontaneous urticaria, this condition can last for 6 weeks or more and can appear without any triggers. This condition is fairly common among persons who suffer from autoimmune diseases. It is estimated that about 45% of persons with an autoimmune disease experience this.
Treatment for this condition involves taking antihistamines, or anti-allergy medication.
Lupus
Lastly, Kris Aquino mentioned that she was diagnosed with a form of lupus. Lupus is a complex disease wherein the body’s own immune system attacks tissues as well as organs.
Lupus can be hard to diagnose because some of the symptoms can easily be mistaken for other illnesses. In addition, there is no single test for lupus. A battery of tests needs to be taken to confirm the diagnosis.
Another thing to know about lupus is that it can be treated, but not cured completely. This means that persons with lupus will need to undergo regular treatment, and take medication to manage their condition.
Aside from medications, persons with lupus also need to make healthier lifestyle changes. Staying healthy helps prevent lupus flare-ups, and is a good way of keeping the disease under control.
It’s also important for lupus patients to visit their doctor on a regular basis in order to keep tabs on their condition. This helps doctors figure out how to best treat the disease over time.
Latest Update:
Recently, Kris Aquino took to Instagram to give another update on her health. She said she’s in extreme pain due to bone marrow aspiration, a procedure needed to check for blood-related conditions that might explain her anemia and weight loss.
Kris also said that she has erosive gastritis, which points to her stomach lining suffering from inflammation and erosion (wearing away).
Read up on other Health News here.
[embed-health-tool-bmi]
