Bhavna Limbachia health latest: Symptoms of Coronation Street star’s hidden health problem

Bhavna Limbachia, 34, first appeared in ITV’s Coronation Street in February 2016 as character Rana Habeeb. During the last three years, Limbachia’s character has had to face some struggles being the show’s first muslim LGBTQ character, and to the dismay of many Corrie fans, her character was killed off the show last week. The actress’ life in real life hasn’t come without any hurdles. Around seven years ago, Limbachia discovered she had hypothyroidism, which is also referred to as an underactive thyroid.

Around seven years ago, Bhavna Limbachia discovered she had hypothyroidism, which is also referred to as an underactive thyroid

“Around five years ago I noticed I was waking up feeling exhausted every day, as if I’d just run a marathon, despite having had eight or nine hours of sleep a night,” Limbachia told Mirror online back in 2017.

She added: “I’m an active person and my life as an actress is pretty busy.

“At the time I was filming Citizen Khan so initially I thought I was just run down from that.

“I tried to rest a bit more, but then my joints started aching and if I watched television for an hour or two my knees would lock.”

The actress initially thought her symptoms were age-related.

But after seeing a doctor and explaining her symptoms – brittle hair and being sensitive to the cold – she was sent for blood tests.

Limbachia said: “They originally tested me for an over-active thyroid because I’ve always been underweight, but it turned out to be the opposite – I had an under-active thyroid.

“The doctors explained there was nothing I could have done to avoid it and that it can be hereditary – in my case it came from my father’s side.

“They said there was no cure and I would need medication for ever.”

While this news was overwhelming at first for the cobbles star, she soon realised it wasn’t too uncommon, with Oprah Winfrey and Dannii Minogue having also revealed they have it.

Now, the actress does what she can to raise awareness for the condition.

She said: “It’s important for people to know that it isn’t the end of the world.”

The NHS explains symptoms of an underactive thyroid are the same as those of other conditions, so can be easily confused for something else.

The symptoms may develop slowly and you may not realise you have it for several years.

The health body lists the symptoms as:

  • Tiredness
  • Being sensitive to cold
  • weight gain
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Slow movements and thoughts
  • Muscle aches and weakness
  • Muscle cramps
  • Dry and scaly skin
  • Brittle hair and nails
  • Loss of libido (sex drive)
  • Pain, numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers (carpal Tunnel syndrome)
  • Irregular periods or heavy periods

It adds: “Elderly people with an underactive thyroid may develop memory problems and depression. Children may experience slower growth and development. Teenagers may start puberty earlier than normal.

“If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP and ask to be tested for an underactive thyroid.”

Another Coronation Street star who’s spoken about their health condition in the past is Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw.

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