Solange Knowles Opens Up About ‘Debilitating’ Health Diagnoses: POTS, Sjogren’s, and MCAS

Solange Knowles, the 38-year-old singer and songwriter, has recently shared an update on her health journey, revealing multiple debilitating health diagnoses she received in 2018. Her disclosure came in the comments section of an Instagram post by fellow musician Shaun Ross, who spoke about his experience with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) following long COVID.

Knowles revealed that she too has been diagnosed with POTS, as well as Sjogren’s syndrome and Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). According to the Mayo Clinic, POTS affects the autonomic nervous system, controlling involuntary body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. Sjogren’s syndrome is an immune system disorder characterized by dry eyes and a dry mouth, while MCAS involves mast cells mistakenly releasing too many chemical agents, leading to symptoms in various body systems including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, heart, respiratory, and neurologic systems.

Knowles expressed her gratitude for the support she has received from the ‘spoonie community’ and Dysautonomia International, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autonomic nervous system disorders. She also acknowledged the challenges of living with these conditions, stating, “I got diagnosed with POTS, Sjogrens and Mcas in 2018 and really relate to not wanting your health to be your identity”.

This is not the first time Knowles has had to address her health publicly. In December 2017, she canceled her New Year’s Eve performance at Afropunk Fest in South Africa due to an autonomic disorder she had been treating for five months. She also canceled a performance at Florida State University‘s Homecoming concert in November 2017 due to a medical condition.