After battling a rare ailment that had an impact on his vision, hearing, and ability to move about, Ashton Kutcher declared himself “fortunate to be alive.”
In an episode of the television program “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” which airs Monday night on National Geographic, Kutcher discusses his battle with vasculitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels.
The interview’s video, which was initially made public by “Access Hollywood,” features Kutcher talking about how the sickness has affected him.
It took Kutcher almost a year to restore such skills, according to Grylls.
A group of uncommon disorders known as vasculitis cause blood vessel inflammation. Vasculitis comes in 15 to 20 different varieties and is classified as an autoimmune illness, according to Dr. Peter Merkel, head of rheumatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
The type of vasculitis Kutcher had was unknown to NBC News, and neither he nor Grylls were available for comment on Monday.
According to the Mayo Clinic, general vasculitis symptoms can include fever, weight loss, and pains. More serious symptoms like hearing loss, blindness, ulcers, skin sores, and shortness of breath can also be brought on by the condition.
