Reality television star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian disclosed during the Season 7 premiere of “The Kardashians” on Hulu that she has been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
In a preview clip from the episode titled “Feels Like the Old Days,” Kardashian, 45, undergoes brain imaging, with scan images displayed on a monitor. Noticing an abnormality, she remarks, “There’s like a little aneurysm.” Her sister, Kourtney Kardashian Barker, responds simply, “Whoa.”
Kardashian remarks, “They’re like, ‘Just stress,’” then reflects, “People think I have the luxury of walking away.” Later, she confides, “This week has been the hardest week of my life.” Details about her current condition remain unclear.
Roughly 30,000 Americans each year experience a rupture, which can cause life-threatening bleeding in the brain known as a hemorrhagic stroke, according to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Many brain aneurysms remain asymptomatic, but larger aneurysms can press on nerves, resulting in drooping eyelids, vision changes, or weakness. If an aneurysm ruptures, it often triggers a sudden, excruciating headache. “Many people describe it as the worst headache of their life,” states the hospital.
Additional symptoms can include confusion, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light, and neck stiffness.
Risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, and a family history of aneurysms. Women between 30 and 60 are more likely to develop them than men, and certain genetic conditions can increase risks.
Treatment options depend on the aneurysm’s size, type, and location. Unruptured aneurysms are often monitored or treated with minimally invasive techniques like endovascular coiling or flow diversion, which block blood flow to the affected vessel.
For larger or more complex cases, open surgery, also called clipping, could be needed to prevent a future rupture.
Kardashian, a mother of four, first rose to fame with “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and has transformed her success into a multibillion-dollar empire encompassing cosmetics, shapewear, and various media ventures. Most recently, she graduated from law school this past May after completing six years of California's Law Office Study program.
The latest season of the family’s show continues to document the Kardashians’ personal and professional journeys. The new season of The Kardashians is on Disney-owned Hulu and features the lives of Kris Jenner and her daughters: Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, and Kylie.