The release of dancehall icon Vybz Kartel from a Jamaican prison sparked immediate global interest, but alongside celebrations, a wave of online searches focused on a pressing question: “What happened to Vybz Kartel’s face?”. This query quickly became a viral search term on platforms like Google and TikTok, driven by concerned fans noticing visible changes in his appearance, including facial swelling.
Amidst the speculation and heightened curiosity surrounding his health, Vybz Kartel, shortly after his release and the drop of a new album, addressed these concerns directly. In an exclusive interview, he emphasized a crucial aspect of his life post-incarceration: his health. For years, Kartel has been privately battling Graves’ Disease, a serious autoimmune condition that has significantly impacted his well-being.
“Healthwise, you know I’m working on my health right now, but the feeling of just being free is just an amazing feeling,” Kartel stated in an interview with FOX 5’s Lisa Evers, shedding light on his ongoing health journey. Adidjah Palmer, the man behind the Vybz Kartel persona, walked out of prison on July 31st following a successful appeal against a retrial in a murder case. While legally free, his battle for health continues, a fight that at times seemed almost insurmountable.
Understanding Vybz Kartel’s Graves’ Disease Diagnosis
For over half of his prison sentence, Vybz Kartel has been contending with Graves’ Disease, a condition exacerbated by what have been described as inhumane prison conditions. This diagnosis became a critical factor in his release, as his physician, Dr. Karen Phillips, testified to the severity of his condition. Her sworn statements highlighted that Kartel’s heart function was dangerously low, placing him at constant risk of a heart attack or even sudden death.
Graves’ Disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. This attack causes the thyroid to become overactive, producing excessive thyroid hormones, a condition known as hyperthyroidism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this hormonal imbalance can accelerate many of the body’s functions to dangerous levels if left unmanaged.
The court’s decision to release Kartel was significantly influenced by the grim prognosis of his health. The medical evidence presented suggested that his deteriorating condition due to Graves’ Disease made him unlikely to survive a potentially lengthy retrial and further imprisonment. His condition showed no signs of improvement, underscoring the urgency of his need for proper medical care outside of prison.
In a 2021 interview from prison with Lisa Evers, when questioned about health rumors, Kartel acknowledged the severity of his situation but maintained hope for freedom. This hope has now materialized, but the focus has shifted to managing his serious health condition.
Delving Deeper into Graves’ Disease
Graves’ Disease is more prevalent than many realize. The CDC notes that millions of people suffer from thyroid disorders, encompassing conditions where the thyroid either underproduces or overproduces necessary hormones. The disease gained broader public awareness when Wendy Williams publicly announced her Graves’ Disease diagnosis in 2018 and her decision to take a break for treatment.
As an autoimmune disorder, Graves’ Disease specifically targets the thyroid gland, causing it to become overstimulated and produce excessive thyroxine, the primary thyroid hormone, as explained by the Mayo Clinic. Wendy Williams described how Graves’ affected the muscles behind her eyes, causing twitching, highlighting one of the visible symptoms associated with the condition.
Visible symptoms of Graves’ Disease, as detailed by the CDC, can include:
- Weight gain: Despite hyperthyroidism often being associated with weight loss, fluctuations and sometimes weight gain can occur.
- Dry and coarse skin and hair: Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in skin and hair health.
- Changes in the face: Facial swelling and alterations in appearance can be noticeable.
- Bulging eyes (Exophthalmos): This is a distinctive symptom in some Graves’ Disease cases, caused by inflammation of eye muscles and tissues.
Furthermore, Graves’ Disease can also affect the voice, leading to hoarseness or a deepening of tone. It’s important to differentiate Graves’ Disease, a specific autoimmune cause of hyperthyroidism, from hyperthyroidism itself, which is the broader condition of an overactive thyroid with various potential causes.
Vybz Kartel’s Health: Charting the Course Forward
Now that Vybz Kartel is free, a critical aspect of his new life is managing and improving his health. He has expressed a proactive approach, stating, “I’ve hit the ground running,” in terms of focusing on his well-being. This includes incorporating exercise into his daily routine, as he mentioned purchasing a bike and treadmill.
Crucially, his medical care is set to become significantly more consistent and comprehensive. “I have appointments with my doctor on Monday, so I can have regular meetings with her, you know, and she can keep track of me in real time,” Kartel explained. This regular monitoring is a stark contrast to the limited medical access he had in prison, where his physician was only permitted to see him a few times annually.
Dr. Phillips’ plan to place Kartel on a special diet and monitor him daily signifies a major step forward in managing his Graves’ Disease. This level of consistent care offers a much greater chance of stabilizing his condition and mitigating the severe health risks associated with untreated Graves’ Disease.
Vybz Kartel’s journey post-release is not just about reclaiming his artistic freedom but also about prioritizing his health. His focus on wellness, coupled with consistent medical attention, represents a hopeful chapter in his ongoing battle with Graves’ Disease. As he aptly put it, “The best is yet to come,” suggesting an optimistic outlook on both his health and future endeavors.
Source:
- This report is based on a medical report obtained exclusively by FOX 5 NY detailing Kartel’s battle with thyroid disease and exclusive interviews. It also incorporates information and definitions from the CDC and the Mayo Clinic regarding Graves’ Disease and hyperthyroidism.
