Beyonce’s sister Solange Knowles opens up about ‘debilitating’ battle with autoimmune disorders
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Beyonce's younger sister Solange Knowles has opened up about her "debilitating" battle against several autoimmune disorders.
The 'Losing You' singer disclosed in the comments section of Shaun Ross' Instagram post, which detailed his diagnosis with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), that she has been battling the same chronic condition along with Sjogren's syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) since 2018.
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Beyonce's sister Solange Knowles reveals her battle with POTS
“Sending u so much love and strength Shaun and to all in the comments struggling with the debilitating, confusing, and lonely symptoms of POTS !” Beyonce's younger sister recently expressed her thoughts in the comments section of Shaun Ross’ Instagram post.
She added revealing, "I got diagnosed with POTS, Sjogrens and Mcas in 2018 and really relate to not wanting your health to be your identity."
Knowles, 38, then gave a shoutout to Dysautonomia International, a non-profit organization that “seeks to improve the lives of individuals living with autonomic nervous system disorders through research, physician education, public awareness and patient empowerment programs", according to its website.
“The good folks at @dysautonomiaintl were really an incredible resource for me and I feel really grateful for the spoonie community for holding me down during my times of complete uncertainty!” she raved.
In 2017, Knowles disclosed that she was silently battling an undisclosed autonomic disorder, which led to the cancellation of her New Year's Eve performance at the Afropunk Festival in South Africa due to her symptoms.
“[It’s] been a journey that hasn’t been easy on me,” the 'Cranes in the Sky' the singer expressed in a post that has since been removed. “Sometimes I feel cool, and other times not so cool at all.”
While Knowles did not disclose the specifics of her diagnosis initially, she described it as "complicated" and mentioned that she was "continuously gaining a lot of knowledge."
POTS disrupts blood flow and autonomic functions
According to the Mayo Clinic, POTS impacts the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure.
“The nerves that regulate blood flow are out of balance, so enough blood doesn’t go to the right place at the right time,” the website states while explaining the syndrome.
Unstable blood flow can lead to feelings of lightheadedness and dizziness. Sometimes, individuals may even faint when transitioning from a lying down to a standing position.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the immune system of people with Sjogren's disease "damages the glands that produce and control moisture in your body." As a result, the mouth, throat, eyes, and other areas become dry.
Individuals with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) experience frequent release of chemical agents from their cells, leading to allergic reactions, as noted by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Symptoms encompass swelling, breathing difficulties, reduced blood pressure, and intense diarrhea.
