16 Celebs Who Are Open About Health Conditions

Sometimes, it is easy to think of celebrities as being immune to terrible things that happen to the rest of us. After all, they are rich and famous and put on a pedestal in the public eye, and it seems like they have everything at their disposal. But this doesn't change the fact that they are human like everyone else, and thus, they are susceptible to very human issues. One of those issues is medical conditions, both mental and physical. Some celebrities have been open about having medical and health conditions, which is an important thing as it makes fans going through similar situations feel like they're not alone.

Though health and wellness are truly personal and private things, it can be quite a positive thing when a celebrity speaks out about battling a medical issue for a number of reasons. First, it raises awareness. If a fan sees that a big star is dealing with something, they might be more likely to see a doctor or health professional for preventative care, like a checkup or screening. Another big reason is that it decreases the stigma of certain illnesses. It makes people feel comfortable asking for help and discussing their issues. And, of course, it also makes them feel like they're not alone. And it's always nice to have a little reminder of that sometimes.

Here are 16 celebs who have been open about their mental and physical health issues.

1. Demi Lovato

The "Confident" singer often speaks out about her past struggle with an eating disorder and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Recently, the singer launched mental health awareness campaign Be Vocal to inspire others.

2. Lady Gaga

Mother Monster has been forthcoming about her struggles with depression and anxiety, recently speaking at Yale about those experiences and the importance of taking care of one's emotional health.

3. Selena Gomez

The singer bravely opened up this year about being diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body and "cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body," according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Gomez also revealed that she underwent chemotherapy as treatment for the disease.

4. Prince

The famously eccentric singer revealed during a 2009 interview that much of his colorful persona comes from compensating for his struggles with epilepsy.

5. Angelina Jolie

The actress has been extremely open about carrying the BRCA1 gene, a mutation that gave her an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer. She has also been open about her decision to undergo a voluntary double mastectomy and removal of her ovaries and fallopian tubes in response to it, penning a two brave op-eds in the New York Times.

6. Halle Berry

The actress has opened up about her struggles with diabetes and how the disease actually made her stronger and tougher, when she had to face reality.

7. Missy Elliot

The rapper revealed that she's suffered from Graves' disease, an autoimmune thyroid disease with a common symptom of tremors, since 2008. Since receiving radiation treatment, she's seen serious improvement.

8. Mary-Kate Olsen

All eyes were on the former actress in 2004 as she very publicly battled an eating disorder. Six years after treatment, she opened up, telling Marie Claire in 2010, "I think it's really important to be able to talk when something's wrong. I learned at a really young age that if you don't talk about it, it can drive you insane."

9. Lil Wayne

The rapper has shared his struggles with seizures, and told RapFix Live that sometimes they even strike without warning.

10. Pink

You'd never guess it from her amazing vocals, but the pop star suffers from asthma.

11. Robin Roberts

The beloved newscaster has bravely battled breast cancer and a rare blood disorder in the past, being near death at one point.

12. Nick Jonas

The "Chains" performer was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13. He told Entertainment Tonight in 2015, "I'm in the best health I've been in, and I'm feeling really good about, not only my own life with diabetes and having tools I can manage it with, but also about the message that I have, which is to try to be an encouragement." The singer also co-founded a charity, Beyond Type 1, to spread awareness about the disease.

13. Jim Carrey

The actor is known for his comedy films, which is why many were surprised to hear that he has suffered with bouts of depression.

14. Nick Cannon

The comedian has opened up about his lupus diagnosis. He told HuffPost Live in 2014, "I want to continue to educate, show people that you can live with this condition and similar conditions as long as you live right. And as long as you have that drive."

15. Magic Johnson

In perhaps one of the most inspiring stories, the former basketball star has survived 24 years of living with HIV after being diagnosed in 1991, back when HIV patients living to middle age was an almost unfathomable idea.

16. Tom Hanks

Hollywood legend Hanks revealed on The Late Show in 2013 that although he has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the disease is "controllable."

There are certainly other celebrities besides those listed here who battle medical conditions, but this round-up offers a welcome glimpse into what a wide variety of individuals face various different conditions.