Ashton Kutcher battled vasculitis causing blindness and hearing loss. Everything you need to know about the rare disease

Ashton Kutcher has opened up about being diagnosed with a “rare form of vasculitis”, an autoimmune disease that prevented him from seeing, hearing or walking. The Two And A Half Men actor shared the diagnosis on Monday’s episode of National Geographic’s Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge. “Two years ago I had this weird, super rare form of vasculitis, which kind of destroyed my vision, it destroyed my hearing, it destroyed my whole balance,” Kutcher said in a clip shared by the Access Hollywood entertainment program. .

In the video, the 44-year-old further said that it took him a year to rebuild his life from scratch and that he was “lucky to be alive”. After the clip went viral on social media, Kutcher posted a clarification on Twitter, saying the health scare happened three years ago after which he made a full recovery.

Let’s find out what is the vasculitis that severely affected Kutcher.

What is Vasculitis?

Vasculitis is an inflammation of a blood vessel or blood vessels. Inflammation can cause the walls of blood vessels to thicken, reducing the width of passage through the vessel. If blood flow is restricted, it can lead to organ and tissue damage. Vasculitis can affect anyone, regardless of age or other factors. It can be treated with medications that control inflammation and prevent flare-ups.

Vasculitis can damage organs

Kutcher revealed that due to his vasculitis he was unable to “see, hear or walk”. It is a possible complication of untreated giant cell arteritis, which can lead to double vision and temporary or permanent blindness in one or both eyes. Some types of vasculitis can cause numbness or weakness in a hand or foot. The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet may swell or harden. Dizziness, ringing in the ears, and sudden hearing loss can also occur, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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Vasculitis Symptoms and When to See a Doctor

General symptoms of vasculitis include: fever, headache, fatigue, weight loss, general aches and pains. Other signs and symptoms are related to the affected body parts. Vasculitis can become serious and requires specialized treatment and care. So, if any of the mentioned symptoms appear or persist, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Generally, vasculitis can be treated with medication and proper medical supervision.

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(With PTI inputs)

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