Former cage fighter and Big Brother champion Alex Reid has been rushed to hospital for urgent tests after developing symptoms of a suspected bleed on the brain.
The 50-year-old father-of-four shared a worrying health update with his followers on Instagram on Tuesday, revealing he had already undergone a CT scan and was awaiting an MRI.
Punch Drunk Symptoms Prompt Hospital Visit
Reid explained that his walk had become severely impaired, leaving him with a 'punch drunk' gait that led strangers to assume he was intoxicated. 'I honestly can't believe how I've been walking lately,' he wrote from the hospital waiting room. 'People keep assuming I'm drunk when I'm out. I'm not. This is just how my body moves these days.'
He described the profound impact of his condition, stating, 'The pain, the imbalance, the uncertainty... it's all become really hard to live with.' The star, who was married to Katie Price for eleven months in 2010, fears that his current health crisis is a direct result of his long career in combat sports.
A Lifelong Passion and a Stark Warning
Reid was quick to clarify that his post was not an attack on martial arts, a sport he loves. Instead, he aims to raise awareness for the next generation of athletes. 'After around 300 fights, years of martial arts training, and being hit more times than I can count,' he said, 'I want young lads coming up in the sport to start training smarter. Wear your headgear. Look after yourselves. Think long-term, not just about the next fight.'
A significant relief came when initial scans ruled out a brain tumour, a particular fear for Reid as his father passed away from one at the age of 77.
The Link Between Combat Sports and Brain Injury
Reid's condition highlights a known risk in contact sports. Medical experts confirm that martial arts can cause brain damage through repetitive head impacts, potentially leading to conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), also known as 'punch-drunk syndrome'.
Symptoms of this degenerative condition can include:
- Memory loss and confusion
- Impaired coordination and balance
- Depression and poor impulse control
- In advanced stages, dementia
This health scare follows recent headlines where Reid leaked a video of his ex-wife, Katie Price, which appeared to show her counting large wads of cash. A representative for Price stated the video had already been shared with her bankruptcy trustee and that the cash did not belong to her.
Alex Reid concluded his emotional post by thanking fans for their support and promising to keep them updated on his MRI results, reinforcing that 'your health is everything.'
