Star Wars star Daisy Ridley recently opened up about her autoimmune disorder, Graves’ disease. Read on to learn all about this condition in which a “strange tiredness” takes over the body.
Daisy Ridley, aka Rey from the “Star Wars” trilogy, is making headlines for sending a message of body acceptance. In a recent interview, the actress opened up about her encounter with an autoimmune disorder called Graves’ disease. What started with mood swings, irritation, and a strange feeling of tiredness turned out to be an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland.
What is Graves’ disease?
Graves’ disease causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones, a condition known as hyperthyroidism. The condition is named after Irish physician Robert Graves, who first described the disorder in the 19th century. Graves’ disease is caused by an autoimmune response in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, stimulating it to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormones.
So far, no cause or reason has been determined that may trigger the disease, but potential risk factors include family history, genetics, and stress.
Symptoms:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Tremors
- Increased appetite and weight loss.
- Anxiety, irritability and mood swings.
- Frequent bowel movements
- Bulging eyes (exophthalmos) and swelling of the soft tissues around the eyes.
Daisy Ridley’s health
Daisy reportedly suffers from endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and Graves’ disease. Ridley has been quite open and candid about her health, especially on social media.
Although she was diagnosed with the condition in September 2023, she only recently spoke about it. In an interview with Women’s Health magazine, Ridley says, “I thought, ‘Well, I’ve just played a very stressful role; presumably that’s why I feel bad.'” When she described her symptoms, which included a rapid heart rate, weight loss, fatigue, and hand tremors, to her endocrinologist, the doctor mentioned that Graves’ feeling is often described as “tired but tense,” and Daisy noticed that she was feeling very irritable. “It was funny, I thought, ‘Oh, I thought I was angry at the world,’ but it turns out everything is going so fast that you can’t relax.”
Ridley has been vegan for years, but decided to go gluten-free after her diagnosis. “I’m not too strict about it, but in general, cutting out gluten makes me feel better,” she says, noting that it’s said to help reduce inflammation in those predisposed to it (like Daisy). Since her diagnosis, Ridley has been taking extra care of her health and has eliminated gluten from her diet. While she admitted that she’s not “too strict about it,” the dietary change “overall” makes her “feel better.”
Her wellness routine now also includes infrared saunas, cryotherapy and acupuncture. She also carries a piece of rose quartz, which is said to calm emotional turmoil, deepen inner peace and promote self-love. “I do quite a bit of holistic stuff, but I also understand that it’s a privilege to be able to do those things,” Ridley said.
For Daisy, working out is a way to escape from the mind, not just a physical achievement. “It’s an hour just for me, and it’s my time to do what I need to do to feel good,” she tells WH.
