Toni Braxton had a pretty serious health scare last year. In a new interview magazine, the celebrity opened up about her current life and her health battles. The star has systemic lupus erythematosus, which is the most prevalent form of lupus. In a new revelation, the 55-year-old revealed that she had to undergo a serious emergency heart operation in September. Reportedly, her primary heart artery was 80% blocked. Toni stated that she has been hospitalized on numerous occasions. She also said that she recognizes the significance of regular health check-ups. However, Toni also confessed that she was not taking them seriously enough.
Toni Braxton has been very open about her struggle with lupus. She was diagnosed with the disease more than a decade ago, in 2008. Since then, she has dealt with multiple complications stemming from the disease. In 2012, she was hospitalized with blood cots. The newest revelation of her heart surgery comes as no surprise, but it was an extremely scary moment for the singer. Apparently, she was very close to having a heart attack.
Toni: “I Would Not Have Survived”
If Toni Braxton had not checked in with her doctor, she may not have survived. She opened up about the experience in her interview, detailing the fear that she felt. “It was a traumatic moment for me. I was in shock. I remember that day because my chest was aching often, just hurting,” the singer said. “And I thought I was just sad because, unfortunately, my sister had just passed… And come to find out… I also had underlying health issues. It was my body talking to me, telling me something’s not quite right.”
Though Toni says she was originally ashamed of her lupus diagnosis, she now sees the good in it through her ability to help others. “It’s so empowering when people come up to me and say, ‘I have lupus, too, and you’ve helped me so much,’” the singer said. However, the condition does make it very difficult for Toni to perform the way that she would like to. Touring is off the table. “I can do one offs. I could do a show here and again, not long term,” the singer said. What do you think of the news about Toni’s health? Let us know in the comments!
[Via]