‘I’m strong enough mentally but my body won’t let me carry on’: Apprentice hopeful Shama Amin, 41, QUITS show due to agony of her rheumatoid arthritis
- In scenes set to air on this week’s episode, the businesswoman tells Lord Alan Sugar that she has ‘made the difficult decision to leave the process’
- Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system turns on the body and attacks cells that line the joints and affects around 400,000 people in the UK
- Women are up to three times more likely to develop the condition than men. Those with family history of rheumatoid arthritis are also more vulnerable
- She says: ‘Mentally, I was strong enough to carry on. But my body wasn’t allowing me to carry on. So I had no choice but to make a difficult decision’
- Shama is a mother-of-five from Bradford and runs her own nursery
Apprentice hopeful Shama Amin has quit the show due to the pain she faces with her rheumatoid arthritis.
In scenes set to air on this week’s episode, the businesswoman, 41, tells Lord Alan Sugar that she has ‘made the difficult decision to leave the process’ as the physical demands have become too much when paired with her condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system turns on the body and attacks cells that line the joints. The condition often hits in teens or 20s, can be linked to genetics and is more common in women than men.
Shama, who hails from Bradford and owns her own nursery, says on the episode: ‘Mentally, I was strong enough to carry on. But my body wasn’t allowing me to carry on. So I had no choice but to make a difficult decision like that’.
Shock: Apprentice hopeful Shama Amin has quit the show due to the pain she faces with her rheumatoid arthritis
Speaking to the businessman, she says: ‘I would just like to say something, Lord Sugar if that’s OK. I suffer from a condition called rheumatoid arthritis…
‘Because of medical reasons, due to this process being so physically demanding, despite the efforts the whole team has made to support me, I’ve had to make a difficult decision to leave the process.’
Lord Alan responds: ‘Well Shama, I’m really sad to hear that. I wish you and your family all the best for the future.’
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system turns on the body and attacks cells that line the joints. Why this happens is not clear, but some evidence suggests even a minor infection can ‘trip’ the immune system into going haywire.
Struggles: In scenes set to air on this week’s episode, the businesswoman, 41, tells Lord Alan Sugar that she has ‘made the difficult decision to leave the process’ as the physical demands have become too much when paired with her condition
WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS? THE AGONISING LONG-TERM ILLNESS THAT IS INCURABLE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects around 400,000 people in the UK
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects around 400,000 people in the UK and nearly 1.3 million adults in the US.
Women are up to three times more likely to develop the condition than men. Those with family history of rheumatoid arthritis are also more vulnerable.
It is a long-term illness in which the immune system causes the body to attack itself, causing painful, swollen and stiff joints.
RA, the second most common form of arthritis that often begins between the ages of 40 and 50, tends to strike the hands, wrists and knees.
Scientists are currently unsure as to the exact cause of RA, but smoking, eating lots of red meat and coffee drinkers are at higher risk.
A cure has yet to be found, but treatments are available and proven to help slow down the progressive condition.
Patients can manage their agonising symptoms with over-the-counter drugs that combat the inflammation, such as aspirin.
But some will need replacement joints to relieve them of their pain. Exercise is recommended as it can help to look after joints.
Moving on: Speaking to the businessman, she says: ‘I would just like to say something, Lord Sugar if that’s OK. I suffer from a condition called rheumatoid arthritis’
The condition often hits patients in teens or 20s, and there appears to be a genetic element, with the disease running in families. Women are also more likely to get it.
Ahead of entering the show, Shama detailed her busy life running a children’s day nursery as well as juggling life with five children at home.
She revealed she was ready to prove she has the ‘skillset that is required to be one of the best, successful businesswomen in the early years sector.’
Speaking ahead of her debut on the show earlier this month, Shama said: ‘Being a lady of colour, wearing a headscarf as well and the challenges that we face on a daily basis, I just want to be a living example for the Asian women out there’.
She described herself as loyal, determined and outspoken and said she is ready to prove she has the ‘skillset that is required to be one of the best, successful businesswomen in the early years sector.’
Tough decision: Shama revealed the physical strains of the challenges were too much
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