• [Dailystar Icon]
• News
• World News
• WWE

Dwayne Johnson opens up on hidden health battle affecting him for 'years'

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made a name for himself for his physique and flawless acting skills, but he has recently spoken out on a years-long health issue that has impacted him

Dwayne Johnson has spoken out on the years-long health battle he hid from the public.

Better known as "The Rock", Dwayne has suffered a host of heartbreaking moments in recent weeks, such as the death of his beloved dog Hobbs. He also has had a brush with death himself recently after his private jet suffered technical issues that could have killed everyone on board if not fixed.

But while he may be known for his huge physique and phenomenal acting skills that landed him a job in Hollywood, the WWE star has been hiding a secret battle with his health. Now, the 53-year-old has opened up on how the condition affects him and how it is impacting his daily life.

Speaking on The Mark Hyman Show, the Jumanji star revealed that he had been secretly dealing with a prolonged and recurring digestive problem. The issues appeared to leave doctors with no real answer on how to treat it, and no clear diagnosis has been given to the actor.

[Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson]

WWE star Dwayne Johnson revealed he had been dealing with a hidden health battle for years(Image: Getty Images)

When asked how he was when joining the conversation, the former wrestler said he felt "great", which was "odd" as he "just can't crack it". He was then asked by the doctor what he meant, to which he spilled the beans that something was not right within him, the Daily Mail reported.

Dwayne initially contacted Dr. Hyman - considered to a leading professional in functional medicine - after being put in touch by his former agent. Functional medicine is a field focused on addressing the root of a medical problem, rather than treating the symptoms.

"I had no idea what functional medicine was," the star admitted - but did everything he could to try and reduce his pain, and opted to try the new medical practice. He was then put under a number of varying tests, including having his bloods and his stool examined, to try and find what normal medical practices had perhaps overlooked.

[Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson]

The actor underwent a number of different tests to determine what could be wrong with his gut(Image: YouTube/Mark Hyman MD)

Eventually, the cause of Dwayne's illness was revealed to be a lack of a key bacteria called Akkermansia. The bacteria is incredibly important within the gut as it helps to tackle inflammation, as well as preserving the linings of the intestine; something that Dwayne had been healing from after taking a round of antibiotics.

Opening up on the case, Dwayne said the illness came just as he was "getting ready to launch into what would become a nine-month workload for me - nonstop work". His schedule was packed with commitments, including WWE matches and his own acting work - promoting his own biopic The Smashing Machine.

[Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson]

Dwayne's gut was "rehabbed" by Dr. Hyman - and has shown remarkable signs of recovery(Image: YouTube/Mark Hyman MD)

After being put in touch with Dr. Hyman, the Hollywood superstar was put on a specified plan at the beginning of the year, focusing on the use of probiotics and other holistic remedies. These included cranberries, green tea and a shake that had been filled with more than 10-different plant based ingredients.

Since then, his gut health has steadily improved, with Hyman joking: "We basically rehabbed your gut. And now you're thriving!"

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.