Megan Park battling rheumatoid arthritis
Canadian actress Megan Park has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The 28 year old, best known for her role in TV show The Secret Life of the American Teenager, has been battling the chronic autoimmune disease for a while, but kept her struggle private.
She has now opened up about her condition to promote a new charity
drive to help others living with rheumatoid arthritis, which causes
severe joint pain, stiffness and swelling throughout the body.
Park says, "In addition to living with RA myself, my mum also has
RA, and she taught me how important it is to speak up about my
health and seek answers and options when in the doctor's office.
It's important that each of us be the lead character in our own
lives, arming ourselves with information that will help us be our
own health advocates."
The actress is backing an education program called Joint Decisions,
which encourages RA sufferers to talk honestly about their
symptoms.