Ashton Kutcher said he is “lucky to be alive” after suffering from a rare autoimmune disease that left him unable to see, hear or walk.
Ashton Kutcher reveals he battled a rare autoimmune disease
The actor revealed he was diagnosed with vasculitis during an episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge.
Kutcher detailed his diagnosis with the host Bear Grylls on the show’s upcoming episode.
“I had this weird, super rare form of vasculitis, that like knocked out my vision, it knocked out my hearing, it knocked out like all my equilibrium,” he told the host.
In a clip from the program, the star told Grylls that he was diagnosed two years ago. He also said it took a year to recover from the autoimmune disease.
“You don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone, until you go, ‘I don’t know if I’m ever gonna be able to see again,’” Kutcher said. “I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to hear again, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to walk again.”
Kutcher is married to fellow actor and That ’70s Show actress Mila Kunis. They share two children, daughter Wyatt (5) and son Dimitri (5).
What do we know about vasculitis?
According to Mayo Clinic, vasculitis is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes cause inflammation of the blood vessels and restricts blood flow. Vasculitis occurs when the body’s immune system attacks veins, arteries and small capillaries.
The resulting inflammation narrows blood vessels, restricts the flow of blood or even cuts blood flow off entirely. This can lead to organ damage or the possibility of aneurysms.
There are several types of c. While it’s not clear which affected Kutcher, all forms involve swelling in the walls of blood vessels and can cause a variety of conditions.
Common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, rash, aches, pains and fever.
Despite the frightening ordeal, Kutcher doesn’t let it, or any of life’s challenges, bring him down. Instead, he views them as opportunities for growth.
“The minute you start seeing your obstacles as things that are made for you, to give you what you need, then life starts to get fun, right? You start surfing on top of your problems instead of living underneath them.”
Kutcher also tweeted about the disease. He confirmed that he has “fully recovered” from the rare health condition.
Comedy director, writer and actor Harold Ramis was killed by complications from the disease. Ramis appeared in a long list of comedy classics like “Ghostbusters” and “Groundhog Day”. He had to relearn how to walk after being stricken with the condition and died a few years later.