GAZELLE MAGAZINE MAY 2018 | Page 89

WELLNESS & WELL-BEING Nobody’s Immune By Vi c k i Fr e n c h B e n n i n g t o n F or some reason, people tend to think of celebrities as somewhat larger than life, and perhaps, super human. That might also include the kind of thinking that makes them seem immune to the kind of diseases and health maladies that the rest of the population faces. But deep down, we know that’s not true. Take Sharon Stone, for instance. The picture of health outwardly, Stone was training for a 3-mile charity run when she was just 43 years old, and suffered a stroke. It is believed that she suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is bleeding in the membrane between the brain and the skull. It was diagnosed as a vertebral artery dissection. Subsequent research has Sharon Stone looking healthy with her son at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. Now 60, Stone suffered a stroke when she was just 43. Brooke Shields had a skin cancer scare when her doctor found precancerous cells on her face. shown a large increase in 40-somethings, who are normally somewhat inactive, but suddenly begin to do strenuous exercise, and then have a stroke. Though not confirmed that's what happened with Stone, there was some speculation that it is possible. The study suggests that younger people who do the same thing, have more “supple” blood vessels than those who have entered middle age. That doesn’t mean you can’t exercise after 40. It means that you need to pay more attention to your age and suggested, age-appropriate workouts, or ease into a routine, especially if you haven't been exercising for awhile. Of course, talk to your doctor before starting a program. And because skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, there have been some heavy hitters who have been touched by that, too. Reggae musician Bob Marley died at just 36 from malignant melanoma after ignoring his doctor’s advice to remove a toe where the initial cancer was diagnosed. Brooke Shields discovered she had precancerous skin cells on her face while visiting a dermatologist, even though she had not tanned or even used tanning beds for years. Hugh Jackman has had skin cancer surgeries; Ewan McGregor had a cancerous mole removed near his right eye. Football star Troy Aikman had a suspicious mole removed from his shoulder. Even President Bill Clinton had a basal cell skin cancer removed from his back. The important thing is to catch it early. SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY 87