In a surprising revelation, Alexis Ohanian, husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
The 41-year-old Reddit co-founder shared his health update through a series of posts on Twitter on Tuesday. Ohanian disclosed that he received the diagnosis after undergoing extensive medical evaluations and a comprehensive series of health scans. "I found out I have Lyme disease," Ohanian stated, adding that he is currently asymptomatic but plans to begin treatment immediately.
He shared details about his health metrics, noting that while his good cholesterol levels were too low, his bad cholesterol was acceptable. He also mentioned a total testosterone level of 822 ng/dL and free testosterone of 162 ng/dL.
Despite having a family history of Lyme disease, Ohanian was taken aback by the diagnosis. "I've got a loved one who had it a few years back, showed tons of symptoms, and just couldn't figure it out until they tested for it and treated it successfully," he said. He noted that his limited exposure to the wilderness made the diagnosis unexpected. "I spent so little time in the wilderness Northeast, this was quite a surprise," he admitted. Ohanian plans to begin a course of antibiotics and humorously added, "Can't keep me down, tick," alongside a picture of a tick cartoon character.
Ohanian emphasized to his 563,000 followers that he is not dispensing medical advice. "Please talk to a doctor," he urged, "do not listen to me for any health advice."
The Mayo Clinic describes Lyme disease as an illness caused by Borrelia bacteria, typically transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick. The clinic noted that while ticks carrying Borrelia bacteria are found throughout the United States, Lyme disease is most prevalent in the Upper Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic states. It is also common in parts of Europe, South Central, and Southeastern Canada. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 476,000 people in the United States are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease annually. Most cases can be treated successfully with a 10 to 14-day course of antibiotics, especially when diagnosed early.
The diagnosis of Lyme disease can be controversial due to a lack of evidence-based guidelines for managing persistent symptoms and misinformation surrounding the disease. The American Medical Association highlighted these challenges in a January 2023 report, noting that some patients attribute persistent symptoms to Lyme disease without concrete evidence of ever having had the disease. Dr. Grace Marks, an epidemiologist with the CDC's vector-borne disease division, noted that the term "chronic Lyme disease" is often used broadly and can include individuals without a clear diagnosis of acute Lyme disease.
Alexis Ohanian joins a list of celebrities who have publicly shared their struggles with Lyme disease. "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Yolanda Hadid and her daughter, model Bella Hadid, have both spoken about their battles with the disease. Yolanda, in a 2021 interview with British Vogue, described suffering from severe depression and numerous symptoms over a decade. Bella, in 2022, revealed undergoing 100 days of treatment for a condition she had battled for nearly 15 years. Musician Justin Bieber announced in January 2020 that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease after facing public scrutiny over his appearance. Actor Ben Stiller was diagnosed in 2010 and has since been symptom-free, though he noted that Lyme disease never completely leaves the system. Comedian Amy Schumer shared her diagnosis in September 2020 and discussed her treatment regimen, asking for advice from her followers.
Ohanian and Serena Williams, who are parents to two daughters, Olympia, 6, and Adira River, 11 months, were recently seen at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, where Williams hosted the event. The tennis star made headlines for a playful jab at NFL kicker Harrison Butker during the ceremony, referencing his controversial graduation speech on sensitive topics such as abortion, Pride Month, and women in the workforce.
