We love how celebs dazzle fans into leading luxurious lives. But even Elvis "the king" presley was rumoured to suffer from constipation. Active checks in with the experts to find out what they, and you, can do to shine on when struck with a mortal virus

If only being rich and famous could come with the guarantee of good health! Along with the paparazzi, the screaming fans, the luxury cruises and a star on the Walk of Fame, comes the occasional health ailment.
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Ask Elvis Presley who allegedly evaded treatment for constipation in a bid to avoid public embarrassment.
With Dr George "Nick" Nichopoulous, the author of the new book titled The King and Doctor Nick, suggesting that constipation might have triggered Presley's heart attack, Active picks top celeb illnesses that even mere mortals like us fall prey to.


Who singer Elvis Presley
You might have seen him gyrating in jailhouse rock
Remember how the King died of a "heart attack" on his "porcelain throne"? Turns out it just might have been constipation.
The strain to pass hard stools can raise blood pressure and even trigger a heart attack or strokeu00a0 the probable cause behind Presley's death.
Expert's take
"To claim that Elvis died of constipation is like saying someone died of a cough," says Dr Viral Patrawala, Gastroenterologist, LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai. "What Elvis had was severe constipation," he says.
u00a0Presley allegedly suffered from a hereditary condition called Bowel Paralysis, which reduces motility of the large intestine and can sometimes cause constipation for weeks together.
Preventive measure
Constipation can be cured by adding more fibre to one's diet and following a regular exercise routine. If that doesn't help, laxatives should do the trick."The best way to avoid constipation is to never avoid nature's call in the first place," advises Dr Patrawala.
Word of caution
"Persistent constipation and stomach pain can also be due to an underlying illness. For instance, in case of a tumour. It's important to note that not all people who suffer from constipation for a long time have or will develop any life-threatening problems," explains Dr Patrawala.



Who TV personality Nicole Richie
You might have seen her in the simple life
"Ok cold, it's been six days now", tweeted Nicole Richie. She was later hospitalised for pneumonia. The new mummy on the brink of launching her jewellery store was living life in the fast lane before getting bedridden. Doctors attributed her pneumonia to stress.
Expert's take
"Celebrities often drink or pop pills to relax, which reduces the body's natural reflexes. Hence during deep sleep, saliva may enter the lung, and over a period of time cause pneumonia," explains Dr Pradip Shah, GP, Fortis Hospital.
Preventive measure
"Stress reduces immunity, leaving you prone to several other ailments. It is best to follow a healthy lifestyle and have a good night's sleep," says Dr Shah.



Who Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom
You might have seen him in the pirates of the caribbean series
A strict vegetarian, Orlando Bloom stays away from milk and other dairy products since he is lactose intolerant, which was also the reason behind his dramatic weight loss. But the actor's super-lean frame was under media scrutiny, claiming that he suffered from an eating disorder. Doubts were soon laid to rest when news of the Bloom Boy's allergy came to light.
Expert's take
"Allergies can develop later in life too. Allergic reactions include cramps, vomiting, loose motions and skin rashes," says Dr Pradip Shah, GP, Fortis.
Preventive measure
An allergy test is a good way to find out how your body reacts to certain foods. "Those who are lactose (milk) or gluten (wheat) intolerant are usually aware of their triggers and stay off those foods," says Dr Shah.


Who celebrity Victoria Beckham
You might have seen her as a judge on american idol
Always dressed in the latest designer threads, there's no denying Posh knows how to dress up. But her love for outrageously high heels took its toll, forcing her to undergo foot surgery to remove the bunions that had grown on her feet. The painful condition, which results as a deformity of the bone and joint, and affects the big toe, had Posh pack her favourite stilettos away for two months. We're not sure which hurt more: the surgery or staying away from her Jimmy Choos.
Expert's take
"Wearing heels more than 3 cm in height on a regular basis is harmful. Stiletto wearers are more prone to premature osteoarthritis, pain in the feet, ankle joint strain and dislocation," says Dr Pradip Shah, GP, Fortis.
Preventive Measure
"Wearing the wrong shoes can cause the point of weight transmission to shift and create problems in the future," he says. "Avoid strappy pencil heels, or wear them for minimal time if you must," he advises. Weight loss, foot relaxing exercises and increasing calcium and Vitamin D intakes are other ways to tackle foot pain.



Who Hollywood actor Whoopi Goldberg
You might have seen her in sister act
The actress who won hearts and an Oscar for her hilarious portrayal of Oda Mae Brown in the 1990-release Ghost, is a long-time sufferer of migraine. Keeping her company are actress Lisa Kudrow and model Elle MacPherson who also suffer from deadly headaches.u00a0
Expert's take
"Women in the age group of 20 to 40 years comprise the largest group of migraine sufferers," says Dr Pradip Shah. "Migraine can be triggered by various reasons: stress, particular foods or leading an unhealthy lifestyle. Things as simple as looking out of a train window or watching a flickering TV can also trigger migraines," he says.
Preventive measure
"All one can do is find out what triggers your migraine and stay away from it. Medicines may prevent the onset of a fresh migraine, but can take anything from six months to a year to be effective," says Dr Shah.
Word of caution
"Be careful not to mistake every severe headache for a migraine. If it occurs with an increase in blood pressure or swelling, it needs to be investigated," advises Dr Shah.



Who musician Amy Winehouse
You might have heard her song Rehab
Barely out of the clinic for her breast enhancement surgery in late 2009, Winehouse was re-admitted to hospital because her body reacted to the over-the-counter medicines for cold. The medicines had an adverse reaction with the pills she was prescribed to tackle her drug addiction. Guess, it's the Universe sending messages to the star to focus on "inner" transformation.
Expert's take
Dr Shalini Suralkar, General Practitioner, LH Hiranandani Hospital advises checking for allergies or medication compatibility before you do the pill-pop. "Over-the-counter meds might have passed through quality checks and labelled safe, but one needs to keep one's allergies in mind.
Preventive measure
"Over-the-counter medicines are mostly a combination of three to four drugs, so they may react with other medicines. Remember that these medicines are to be taken for two days at the most. If symptoms still persist, visit your doctor," advises Dr Shah.
Word of caution
"For those suffering from diabetes or kidney ailments, it is better to consult your doctor before starting new medication," warns Dr Shah.



Who singer Sir Elton John
You might have heard him croon candle in the wind
Disappointing fans is not Sir Elton John's style. But after two weeks of battling a nasty flu, he was forced to cancel a few shows while on tour with Billy Joel, and check into a hospital. The 62 year-old star was treated for severe flu, and advised bed rest.
Expert's take
"The common cold or flu spreads via a virus and affects everyone differently," says Dr Shalini Suralkar. "Even within a family, certain family members might come down with a fever, cough and a cold while others won't be as affected. It all boils down to how strong one's immunity is," adds Dr Suralkar.
Preventive measure
"Elderly people and children are more prone to the flu, and must eat well and sleep early to maintain good health and develop stronger immunity," advises Dr Suralkar.



Who Hollywood actor Zac Effron
You might have seen him in high school musical
Zac Effron fans around the globe suffered sleepless nights when the High School Musical heartthrob was rushed to hospital for an emergency appendectomy. Balancing a demanding career and following a healthy lifestyle might be a tough balancing act, but as Zac learnt the hard way, it might be the only solution to save one's internal organs!
Expert's take
A severe, recurring pain on the lower right side of the abdomen, fever and vomiting may be signs of appendicitis. Gastroenterologist Dr Patrawala explains, "Appendicitis occurs when the opening of the appendix is infected. One cannot predict who is likely to suffer from the ailment, but it needs to be detected early or it can prove fatal."
Preventive measure
"When in doubt, get a sonography done as it can detect an inflamed appendix," says Dr Patrawala.


Celeb-Struck?
We know they are special, but just how "special" is anybody's guess. Here's our pick of the quirkiest Hollywood ailments:


Megan Fox: The Transformers' actress recently went public with her fears that she might be a victim of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). For one, she stays away from public toilets since, "Every time someone uses a bathroom and flush, all the bacteria is shot into the air." Similarly, restaurant cutlery is a no-no for the potty-mouthed star. "Putting my mouth where a million other mouths have been...? Ucch!" she told a US-based beauty magazine.
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Robert Pattinson: Twilight hottie Rob Pattinson says he's manic depressive. Pattinson insists he often endures mood swings, and though it's not official, he is convinced of his illness, which shows up only when he's in a relationship. "You over-analyse everything. You begin to experiment on people, which isn't good for real life. I don't think I'm very romantic any more just manic depressive," he told a UK-based gossip magazine.

Daniel Radcliffe: In 2008, the Harry Potter star revealed that he suffers from a mild form of dyspraxia, a neurological disorder that often hampers coordination. His rep claimed to a UK-based tabloid that the star's condition is very mild, and at worst manifests itself in an inability to tie his shoelaces and bad handwriting. Radcliffe went on to joke about his disorder in an interview, saying, "I sometimes think, 'Why, oh why, has Velcro not taken off?'"