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| Vybz Kartel |
Vybz Kartel’s release from prison late last week has drawn attention to Graves’ disease. Vybz Kartel is suffering from Graves’ disease. Why is Vybz Kartel’s face swollen? This followed netizens’ reactions to his changed appearance following his battle with the autoimmune disease behind bars. As netizens observed, Kartel’s face appeared swollen, his eyes bulged out, and he appeared weak. Aides momentarily supported him as he walked out of Tower Street Adult Correctional Facility in Kingston, Jamaica. Before his incarceration, Kartel was slim-built, had a regular oval face and was energetic. Reports soon after surfaced revealing that his condition was dire and needed surgery to treat Graves’ disease. He was hospitalised several times. According to the National Institutes of Health, Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). It occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, forcing the immune system to attack healthy tissue.
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Symptoms include fatigue, painful bulging out eyeballs, muscle weakness of the hips and shoulders, heat intolerance, and weight loss. Treatment for Graves’ disease includes radioactive iodine therapy, anti-thyroid medicines, beta blockers and surgery. The latter was reportedly not available to Kartel in prison. Speaking to Fox soon after his release from prison, Kartel said he was focusing on his health and actively seeking treatment. “Healthwise, you know, I’m working on my health right now, but being free is a fantastic feeling. I could be better, but I’m super upbeat. I have appointments with my doctor on Monday so that I can have regular meetings with her, and she can keep track of me in real-time. “She even mentioned that she’s going to… put me on a special diet so she can monitor me every day, which is a far cry from when you’re in prison. I’ve hit the ground running,” said Kartel. Reacting to the news of Kartel’s battle with Graves’ disease, netizens expressed their sympathies and wished the singer the best recovery. @Ossie_Ozwa: “Vybz Kartel has been battling illnesses for most of his jail time. He is a survivor. He had the right mentality to survive illness in jail, and he can surely do much better now. Fully Gaza.” @bellsmitchelll: “I love how transparent Vybz Kartel is about his illness. Jamaicans and most people tend to hide and shame illness, so it’s refreshing to see him not hiding and living openly.” @DjW2317: “Vybz Kartel is not hiding his face change or illness. His fans and the world will be a part of his recovery and road to being what he is, the World Boss.” @maxke0164361974: “What do you think about Vybz’s swollen face? Did they release Kartel, or it’s a completely different person?” When was Vybz Kartel released from prison? Kartel was released from prison in late July 2024 after successfully appealing his 2014 murder conviction. He аnd thrее оthеr mеn – Shawn Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones – were convicted for the 2011 murdеr оf Сlіvе ‘Lіzаrd’ Wіllіаmѕ. Jamaica’s Court of Appeal ordered his release after deciding that a retrial was not merited. This is after the UK-based Privy Council quashed the conviction in March and sent the case back to the Court of Appeal to decide whether to retry the singer. The ‘World Boss’ had been behind bars for 13 years for Lіzаrd’s murder.