Kim Kardashian has revealed that she has a “little” brain aneurysm, as seen in a preview clip of the latest season of The Kardashians. In the brief video, she says: “They’re like; ‘Just stress’. People think I have the luxury of walking away.”
A brain aneurysm is a condition where a blood vessel in the brain weakens and begins to bulge due to pressure. It’s estimated that around 3% of UK adults live with a brain aneurysm, most of which are small and don’t pose an immediate threat. However, if a brain aneurysm ruptures, it can lead to bleeding in the brain, resulting in a medical emergency known as a haemorrhagic stroke. This requires immediate treatment as it can be fatal. The current state of Kim’s health remains unclear. It’s also unknown whether she was experiencing any symptoms prior to the imaging scan, as it’s common for people not to realise they have an aneurysm.
Most small aneurysms don’t cause symptoms and are typically discovered during tests for other conditions or illnesses. Larger aneurysms, however, can trigger a range of issues that could easily be mistaken for minor problems.
Symptoms of a large aneurysm:
- A headache
- Pain above or around your eye
- Changes in your vision, such as double vision
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Numbness or weakness on 1 side of your face
- Difficulty concentrating and speaking
- Problems with your short-term memory
If a brain aneurysm ruptures, the primary symptom is what’s known as a thunderclap headache. Unlike typical headaches that gradually worsen without treatment, this severe headache reaches its peak intensity within a minute or so of onset.
The NHS advises calling 999 if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- A thunderclap headache that’s extremely painful and does not go away
- Weakness in the face
- Weakness or numbness in 1 arm or down 1 side of the body
- Speech problems
- Blurred vision or loss of sight in 1 or both eyes
Those suffering from a brain aneurysm may notice one side of their face beginning to droop, making it difficult to smile, or they may struggle to fully lift both arms and keep them raised. They might also start slurring words, sounding confused or struggling to speak and find the right words.
The exact cause of a brain aneurysm isn’t always clear, but certain factors such as stress, high blood pressure, smoking and drug use, like cocaine, can increase your risk of developing an aneurysm.
Small aneurysms typically don’t require treatment, provided they’re not causing symptoms, as they generally don’t grow larger and have a low risk of rupture, according to the NHS. However, regular follow-up scans may be necessary to monitor it.
If there’s a danger of the aneurysm rupturing, or if it has already done so, surgical intervention will be necessary. There are two primary surgical procedures used to treat this condition.
One involves attaching a small metal clip to the affected blood vessel, effectively halting blood flow into the aneurysm.
The second procedure involves placing a coil or small piece of wire mesh inside the aneurysm. This reduces the rate of blood flow into it and aids in the formation of a blood clot.