Fans are worried for the health of international martial arts and action star Jet Li after a recent photo of him looking old and frail surfaced on social media.
The photo sparked serious concerns for Li’s health because it’s a far cry from the athletic and agile physique which we came to know and love.
Known for his lightning-fast martial arts skills (mainly in wushu) he became a household name in and outside of Asia thanks to his litany of action films.
Li revealed back in 2013 he had been suffering from hyperthyroidism, as well as a heart condition, which hasn’t been helped by a series of on-set-injuries sustained throughout his career,
Hyperthyroidism is a condition which occurs due to excessive production of the thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. Symptoms include irritability, muscle weakness, trouble sleeping, a fast heartbeat, heat intolerance, diarrhoea, enlargement of the thyroid and weight loss.
During a recent trip to Tibet, the Hero and Kiss of The Dragon star had his picture taken and he appeared to be in a frail state. Once considered a successor to the legendary Bruce Lee (along with iconic action stars Donnie Yen and Jackie Chan – with whom he co-starred in The Forbidden Kingdom), this latest image has various media outlets in Asia, such as Hong Kong’s
Apple Daily, comparing The Expendables star to someone who is 20 or 30 years older than he looks, despite being 55 years old.
According to THR , after revealing his health issues Li’s doctor released a statement on behalf of the man himself vowing to:
… either continue making [action] films or spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Unfortunately, he was forced to retire from filmmaking after a lifetime of onset injuries to his legs and spine started to take a toll on his body. He even admitted he could no longer stand for long periods of time without hunching his back.
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