Over a decade ago, Nick Cannon, who was barely in his thirties, suddenly had to be rushed to the hospital. Having shortness of breath, swelling in the limbs, and body pain, it became clear quickly that something was significantly wrong. And it was fortunate that the Wild 'N Out host went to the hospital when he did. Given that the situation with Cannon's health issues would shortly go from bad to worse.
While doctors examined Cannon, they found that he was in kidney failure. And in the days that followed while trying to stabilize the America's Got Talent host, doctors discovered that Cannon had a potentially fatal condition he was battling in conjunction with all of his other symptoms. That condition was blood clots in his lungs.
Since that time, Cannon has made significant changes in his lifestyle and diet. But, he still requires treatments when flare-ups occur. And now that the actor has a brood of children, it would be understandable for Cannon to be concerned that one or more of them may be susceptible to following the same health path he did.
Because of this, the reasonable question to ask would be whether Nick Cannon's kids will inherit his disease. And while the chances are small, experts say the chance is not "zero."
Nick Cannon Has Lupus Kidney Disease
The condition that Cannon has is lupus kidney disease. An autoimmune disease that medical experts are still not certain what the trigger is.
For those who have autoimmune diseases, instead of the immune system protecting the body from illnesses, it attacks the body instead. This is why Cannon suddenly found that he was having shortness of breath, swelling, and body pain. His body was inflamed as a result of the immune system overreacting.
There is no difference in the way this type of lupus afflicts adults or children. However, children who are diagnosed with the condition have more severe symptoms than adults do.
As such, while it was important for Cannon to get the autoimmune disease under control as soon as possible so that his organs did not suffer permanent damage, it is even more imperative for children to do so.
This means that as a result of being diagnosed with lupus, the Love Don't Cost A Thing star and the mothers of his children, should be vigilant about recognizing signs and symptoms of the condition.
If the condition does pass to any of Nick's children, it could cause serious health problems.
Lifestyle Changes Nick Cannon Has Made As A Result Of Diagnosis
When Cannon was diagnosed with lupus, there were some major lifestyle changes he needed to make. And that meant shaking up not only what he ate and how he exercised but his work life as well.
After receiving the news that his immune system was under attack and causing organs in the body to shut down, Cannon immediately took action to get himself healthy. This meant eating a diet that was low in sodium for just shy of a year and eating a diet that consisted of nothing but "fish, vegetables, and fruit."
This diet is not one that is continued today, but a bulk of what Cannon eats are fruits and vegetables, a little meat, and little to no processed food.
The Drumline star also made the decision to give up the radio show he hosted. And as a result of getting more sleep, Cannon's body was able to heal faster.
These changes have allowed Cannon to be on a low level of medication to control his lupus. And while there will always be flare-ups, the celebrity host is doing all that he can to keep the condition under control.
Lupus Is Not A Hereditary Disease
Lupus is not like diseases that are hereditary. However, there is the possibility of passing along genes that can give kids a higher risk of presenting with the condition. And because of this, Cannon's kids will need to be acutely aware as they age of what things can trigger lupus to flare.
To make lupus rear its ugly head, it takes something to "spark the blaze." For many, this includes being exposed to "infections, ultraviolet light, and perhaps extreme stress."
While it is unknown what caused Cannon's lupus to flare when he was 31 years old, given how much and how hard the Bobby actor works, it would not be out of the realm of possibility that stress was a contributing factor.
As such, if Cannon can instill a healthy lifestyle in his kids, they will be less apt to present with lupus. And while there is only a "five percent chance" that one of Cannon's sons or daughters will develop the condition, doing everything possible to make sure it does not happen will shrink that risk further.
Which Of Nick Cannon's Children Are Most At Risk
In order for any of Cannon's children to be at risk for lupus, they would have to inherit the genes that predispose them to lupus from Cannon. However, those who are more often than not affected by lupus are women. A fact that means Cannon's daughters would be at a higher risk than his sons to develop lupus somewhere down the line.
When it comes to this autoimmune disease, women, and more specifically, women of color, are more likely to be diagnosed than white women or men of color. Black and Hispanic women typically develop lupus earlier and are at a higher risk of being "diagnosed with kidney problems, have seizure, strokes, or swelling of the heart."
What this means is that any of Cannon's children could be diagnosed with lupus. But the odds are that it would be one of Cannon's daughters who would receive that diagnosis.
Regardless, the family will hopefully be watching the kids closely for any sign that they have a health disorder, and act quickly if symptoms arise.