Sushmita Sen was told to take a medicine every 8 hours for the rest of her life to survive. How she overcame health challenges and pill dependency
Sushmita Sen is no stranger to battling a health crisis. The 'Main Hoon Na' actress, who survived a massive heart attack in 2023, had been living with Addison's Disease, a rare
autoimmune disorder
, since 2014, and was told point-blank by her doctors that she had to take a steroid called hydrocortisone every eight hours to prolong her life.
'There is a hormone in the body called cortisol. My adrenal glands had stopped producing it. I had gone into an adrenal crisis. I was declared steroid-dependent for life,' she told Rajeev Masand in 2019.
However, the actress was determined not to rely on drugs to stay alive.
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Choosing a Different Path
Despite the diagnosis, Sushmita wasn't willing to accept a future that relied solely on pharmaceuticals. As soon as she grasped the seriousness of her condition, she made a decisive call to her fitness trainer and asked to begin training in gymnastics—something completely out of the ordinary for someone in her condition.
'The doctor said not to do any anti-gravity movements. The first thing I did was call my trainer... I don't like who I am becoming in the attempt to survive.' she told Masand
She expressed a strong desire to try anti-gravity workouts, a form of aerial fitness, and pushed herself to defy the limitations that doctors had placed on her. She admitted that while this approach may not be advisable for everyone, especially those battling chronic diseases, she believed that her body was trying to guide her in a different direction.
She also adopted a comprehensive detox program, trying every medical protocol she could. Along with that, she reintroduced yoga, aerial exercises, and anti-gravity training into her life. These became her tools not just for survival, but for transformation.
An Unbelievable Turnaround
One day, her journey took a shocking turn. After she collapsed unexpectedly, Sushmita was rushed from Dubai to Abu Dhabi for emergency medical care. Following her treatment, she was released and began her journey back to Dubai. During that time, her doctor from Turkey reached out with astonishing news. He told her to stop taking the hydrocortisone. Her body had started naturally producing cortisol again. The doctor, astounded, mentioned that in his 35 years of experience, he had never seen someone with adrenal failure regain natural hormone function. He had triple-checked the test results and was still in disbelief.
For Sushmita, that moment was overwhelming—like receiving a divine message she had long waited for. Her body, once written off as steroid-dependent, had fought back and healed itself in a way that stunned even the most seasoned experts.
Understanding Addison's Disease: A Complete Breakdown
Addison's disease is a rare yet serious medical condition that arises when the adrenal glands fail to produce adequate amounts of specific vital hormones. According to a report from
Harvard Health Publishing
, this disorder particularly affects the production of cortisol—a hormone that plays a central role in the body's response to stress—and aldosterone, which is responsible for maintaining the balance of sodium and potassium. These minerals directly influence the volume of fluids in the body and help regulate blood pressure. Addison's disease falls under the category of adrenal insufficiency, where the glands don't function to their full capacity.
What Causes Addison's Disease?
The primary cause of Addison's disease is damage to the adrenal glands, which are small, triangular organs situated above each kidney. These glands are essential for the release of various hormones that control metabolism, manage blood pressure, and support immune system performance. In the majority of cases—up to 90 percent—this damage results from an autoimmune reaction. This means that the body's immune system, which is designed to defend against harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the adrenal glands instead. Over time, this misguided attack impairs the glands' ability to produce hormones, leading to the development of Addison's disease.
Common Warning Signs
People with Addison's disease typically experience a broad range of physical symptoms, many of which are related to hormonal imbalances in the body. These symptoms often develop gradually and may worsen over time if not treated. They include:
Persistent nausea accompanied by vomiting
Pain or discomfort in the abdominal region
Frequent episodes of diarrhea
A noticeable reduction in hunger or interest in food
Unexplained weight loss
Aching in muscles and joints
Involuntary muscle cramps or twitching
Ongoing feelings of muscle fatigue or weakness
These signs are the body's way of signaling that the adrenal glands are not functioning properly. Because many of these symptoms are also found in other medical conditions, Addison's disease is sometimes misdiagnosed or goes undetected until the symptoms become severe.
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