Catherine O'Hara's rare medical condition explained following her death aged 71

The late Catherine O’Hara had been diagnosed with a rare medical condition years before her death – but what exactly was it?

On Friday, it was announced that the Hollywood actress had passed away at the age of 71. Catherine – best known for her roles in Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek and Beetlejuice – died at home in Los Angeles following a “brief illness”, her agent said.

Although her cause of death has yet to be officially declared, the beloved star had previously been open about her diagnosis with a rare congenital condition.

Catherine had situs inversus, which caused her heart to sit on the opposite side of her chest. The condition is known to affect around 1 in every 10,000 people.

Situs inversus doesn’t have any warning signs or symptoms, and it is possible to live without realising that you have it. The condition is usually harmless but can occasionally be connected to other health complications.

Back in 2020, Catherine opened up about her condition during a Virtual Happy Hour session with winemaker Kathryn Hall, joking: “I’m a freak!”

Alongside her condition, the Emmy winner also had dextrocardia, the type of situs inversus where the heart points toward the right side of the chest and other organs are flipped.

Catherine discovered her condition over 20 years ago during a visit to the doctor.

On Virtual Happy Hour, she recalled: “I love Western medicine, I just don’t want to be a part of it. But I had to get a TB test when our youngest was in co-op nursery school and I went to my husband’s doctor and he said let’s do some baseline tests, and one of them was an EKG.”

Catherine went on to explain that she was confused when the doctor tried using two different EKG machines, and then ordered a chest x-ray.

“I was like, ‘What is happening?’ He calls us into his office and says, ‘You’re the first one I’ve met!’”

“I’m one of seven kids and my parents were already gone and left the world by that time. Never heard anything about this. We’re driving home and I think, ‘I wonder about my other siblings if they know where their hearts are!’

“When the doctor told us that my heart was on the right side and my organs were flipped, my husband immediately said ‘No, her head’s on backwards.’ Cheers to health!” Catherine exclaimed further.

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