To the rest of the world, Justin and Hailey Bieber would appear to be the picture-perfect couple enjoying the high life together.In fact, the hitmaker is due to take the stage during the World Cup final as Spain prepares to take on Argentina on Sunday.
Just yesterday, the Baby singer spent the evening warming up his vocal cords after making a surprise appearance at the Fanatics fest at the Javits Centre in New York. He took to the stage shirtless, giving football and sporting fans a memorable performance of some of his biggest hits.
However, while it may look as though Justin is living the pop star's dream, behind the star-studded stages and high-profile events, the singer endures several debilitating illnesses that make his incredible success even more admirable.
Justin's health battles
In January 2020, Justin revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease and had spent years suffering from unexplained fatigue and had had to undergo numerous tests before receiving a diagnosis.
In the docuseries Justin Bieber Seasons, he admitted he was initially misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder but was later assured by a different doctor that he did not have the mental health condition.
© Getty ImagesLyme disease is a bacterial infection that develops after being bitten by a tick. If not treated properly, it can lead to severe symptoms affecting the nervous system, heart, joints, and skin. It can cause a range of symptoms, including multiple rashes, facial palsy, headaches, nerve pain and heart palpitations.
Despite his struggles, the singer has remained committed to beating the disease. "I'm committed to getting better and committed to doing whatever I have to do, whether it's inconvenient or not," he said during his docuseries.In addition to his struggles with Lyme disease, Justin also suffers from a chronic case of mono.
Media speculation
Around the time he was most struggling with his various undiagnosed illnesses, many in the media had speculated that the singer's lacklustre appearance could be the result of substance abuse. In a since-deleted Instagram post from the period, he defended himself, writing: "[I] had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health."
Mono is a contagious viral illness typically caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It is known as the “kissing disease” because it is transmitted through saliva. It can cause extreme fatigue, a severe sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits.Speaking in the documentary, his wife, Hailey, said the hardest part about Justin's health struggles was not knowing the cause of his symptoms.
© Getty ImagesIn 2022, he also revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can cause partial facial paralysis. In a video explaining to fans why he had been forced to cancel his tour, he said: "As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can't smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move. So there's full paralysis on this side of my face."
Ramsay Hunt is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles, but can lie dormant in the body for many years before causing symptoms that affect the facial nerves and are particularly dangerous for those who are immunocompromised.
Hailey's health scare
Justin, who shares Jack Blues with his wife, Hailey, is not the only one in his family to have endured health struggles. Hailey recently revealed that she had suffered a mini-stroke in 2022.
The model and socialite admitted the incident had completely changed her perspective and made her "obsessed" with medicine.
© GC ImagesSpeaking on Jake Shane's Therapuss podcast earlier this year, she said: "A couple of years ago, I had a crazy medical situation. I had a mini stroke," she explained.
"Then I found that I had this heart defect that I was born with, so I had to get surgery for it, which sounds really crazy, but they went through my groin, and I was in and out of the hospital the same day." The incident made her "hyper aware" of her body but also led her to become more invested in her health.
