On July 16, 2024, venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian shared a post on X that shocked his almost 600,000 followers.
The 41-year-old man, who married tennis star Serena Williams in 2017, revealed he was getting a full check-up when doctors discovered he has Lyme disease.
“Doing a full battery of health scans, tests, etc, and found out I have lyme disease. Wild. No symptoms, thankfully, but gonna treat,” writes the co-founder of Reddit. “Good cholesterol is too low. Bad cholesterol is just OK. Gotta work on that.”
According to the Mayo Clinic there are three levels of severity and “some people don’t have symptoms of the typical early stage” of Lyme disease, an illness caused by the bite of an infected tick.
‘Quite a surprise’
In a following post, the father of two writes the diagnosis came as “quite a surprise” since he doesn’t spend much time in the Northeast or in the wilderness, where ticks – and Lyme disease – are most common.
“I’ve got a loved one who had it a few years back, showed tons symptoms etc and just couldn’t figure it out until they tested him for it and then found it (treated it successfully, too). I spend so little time in the wilderness/northeast this was quite a surprise,” shares the New York-born Ohanian.
The entrepreneur’s followers jumped into the comments section, offering their support and sharing their own experiences.
“I had Lyme and it was dormant for about 4-5 months, then suddenly my leg started swelling randomly out of nowhere,” shares one user, who says he lives in New York City and Lyme was not initially suspected.
A second netizen shares their frightening symptoms: “I have Lyme as well – please treat before it gets too bad! I’m much better now but my cognitive function greatly diminished back in 2019, along with other complications.” The user continues, “Happy to chat more through it if you ever need it.”
Another cyber fan writes, “Lyme disease is awful. You’re lucky you have no symptoms. It can be the cause of a lot of undiagnosed health problems.”
‘Can’t keep me down’
Still, Ohanian is not letting the diagnosis run his life.
“Anyway, gonna grab some antibiotics – can’t keep me down, tick!”
He ended his posts with a final message where he encourages people to consult a doctor for health advice rather than relying on his personal experience.
Ohanian is one of several celebrities, including Shania Twain, Amy Schumer, Justin Bieber, Ben Stiller and Yolanda and Bella Hadid, who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
What you need to know about Lyme disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 63,000 cases of Lyme disease reported across the United States in 2022.
The illness is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks).
In most cases, the tick must be attached to the skin for at least 24 hours before the bacterium can be transmitted.
Early symptoms (three days to one month after tick bite)
- Red, expanding rash called erythema migrans (often resembling a bull’s-eye)
- Flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes
Later symptoms (if untreated)
- Severe headaches and neck stiffness
- Additional rashes on other areas of the body
- Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly in the knees
- Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
- Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat (Lyme carditis)
- Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
- Nerve pain
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is primarily based on symptoms, medical history, and the possibility of exposure to ticks. Laboratory testing can help confirm the diagnosis by detecting antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in the blood.
Prevention
- Avoid tick habitats (wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter).
- Use insect repellent containing DEET or permethrin-treated clothing.
- Perform tick checks after spending time outdoors, and promptly remove any ticks found.
Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent complications of Lyme disease. If you suspect you have been bitten by a tick or have symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly
