Kenan Thompson’s health struggles revealed.
Kenan Thompson is no stranger to keeping things lighthearted on stage, but behind the scenes, he’s been quietly suffering.
Thompson’s health struggles unveiled.
For years, the iconic Saturday Night Live star kept a secret about his health struggles—until now.
Kenan recently revealed that he had been silently battling extreme acid reflux, a condition that took a heavy toll on his daily life.
Despite his years of success, the 46-year-old comedian found himself struggling with a medical condition that affected his voice and his energy.
As SNL’s longest-running cast member, his health struggles were anything but trivial, especially given the demands of live television.
“I noticed that I would get hoarse a lot easier when I’m doing the show,” Kenan told People in an exclusive interview.
It was a minor issue at first, but it soon became more serious.
Kenan said the acid reflux affected not only his vocal cords but also his ability to sleep, leading to sleepless nights of burping up acid.
“I would get these hiccups all night long, and it would keep me up,” he said, describing the frustrating symptoms.
At first, Kenan tried to brush off the discomfort, hoping it would go away on its own.
The toll of acid reflux highlighted.
But as time passed, the issue only worsened, affecting his ability to perform on one of the most high-pressure stages in television.
“I kept thinking, ‘Whatever, I’ll get over it,’” Kenan confessed.
But it quickly became clear that this wasn’t something he could simply ignore.
The acid reflux continued to worsen, and the comedian realized it was seriously affecting his work on SNL.
At one point, he began losing his voice much quicker than usual during live performances, adding stress to an already high-stakes environment.
The diagnosis confirmed.
Finally, after enduring this silent suffering, Kenan sought help—just when things started to get out of hand.
That was when he was officially diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition where stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus.
According to the Mayo Clinic, GERD can cause severe discomfort and damage to the esophagus, which might explain Kenan’s constant hoarseness and sleepless nights.
Despite his pain, Kenan initially avoided seeking treatment, unsure if it was “serious enough” to warrant a doctor’s visit.
Thompson’s candid admission detailed.
But once his self-managed treatments stopped working, he realized he needed professional help.
“I was able to take something and patch it up for the moment, but it got to a point where that didn’t work anymore,” he revealed.
He admitted, “It was a suffering-in-silence situation” before he decided it was time to confront the issue head-on.
Kenan’s decision to speak out about his condition marks a shift in his journey—one that began with discomfort and ended with relief.
He learned that there was an actual medical term for what he had been enduring all along, something that brought him comfort and hope.
Once diagnosed, Kenan began making significant lifestyle changes, from his diet to his medication regimen.
The comedian shared that relief came almost immediately after he started treatment.
“I feel great now,” he said, grateful for the transformation his health had undergone.
Kenan credits his newfound energy and well-being to the lifestyle changes he’s implemented, including making more mindful meal choices.
His journey has led him to a much healthier place, one where his voice and his physical health no longer limit him.
Kenan enjoys his new chapter.
And with that new sense of well-being, Kenan is enjoying a new chapter in his life, feeling empowered to take better care of himself.
The decision to talk openly about his health struggles is a significant moment for Kenan—who has always been known for his humor, but rarely for his vulnerability.
But for Kenan Thompson, admitting he was suffering, and then taking action, was the breakthrough he needed, and it’s one that’s worth celebrating.