Recently, you may have seen news about brain aneurysm. Hollywood actress Kim Kardashian has fallen victim to this condition. But do you know what a brain aneurysm actually is? Let’s understand it in this article.
Kim Kardashian (full name Kimberly Noel Kardashian) is an American media personality, businesswoman, socialite, and model, born on October 21, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is one of the most influential figures in pop culture and social media, with hundreds of millions of followers. She’s credited with shaping modern influencer culture, fashion trends, Reality TV star and online branding.
She’s been married three times: to Damon Thomas, Kris Humphries, and Kanye West (Ye).
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She has four children with Kanye West: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm.
Influence
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian recently opened up about a frightening discovery during a routine MRI scan - doctors found what she called a “little aneurysm” in her brain. The revelation was aired during the preview of Season 7 of her reality show The Kardashians.
According to reports from Harper’s Bazaar and The Times of India, Kim Kardashian explained that the doctors linked the aneurysm to extreme stress, especially in the wake of her divorce from Kanye West and the pressures of balancing her businesses, fame, and motherhood.
What Is a Brain Aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a localized dilation (bulge) of a blood vessel in the brain, usually at a branching point of arteries where the wall is weakest.
Most aneurysms form in arteries at the base of the brain in an area called the Circle of Willis.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
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High blood pressure (hypertension)
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Smoking or chronic stress
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Genetic weakness in blood vessel walls
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Head trauma or infections
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Drug use (especially stimulants like cocaine)
Pathogenesis (How It Develops)
A brain aneurysm develops in several steps:
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Congenital or acquired weakness in the tunica media (muscle layer) and internal elastic lamina of an artery.
Hemodynamic stress (pressure and flow turbulence) acts on this weak point.
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The vessel wall gradually balloons outward, forming a sac-like bulge.
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The aneurysm wall becomes thinned and fibrotic, losing normal elastic and muscular layers.
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The aneurysm may remain stable or eventually rupture, leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
How Stress Can Contribute to Brain Aneurysms
Stress itself does not directly cause a brain aneurysm, but chronic or extreme stress can increase the risk through several mechanisms:
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High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
These hormones cause temporary spikes in blood pressure.
Over time, repeated high blood pressure can weaken blood vessel walls in the brain, making them more prone to ballooning (aneurysm formation).
Inflammation and Vessel Wall Damage
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Chronic stress can increase systemic inflammation.
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Inflammation damages the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels), reducing elasticity and resilience, which can contribute to aneurysm development.
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Unhealthy Coping Behaviors
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Stress may lead to smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, or physical inactivity.
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All of these behaviors are independent risk factors for aneurysm formation and rupture.
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Hormonal Imbalance
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Stress affects cortisol and other hormone levels that influence blood vessel tone and integrity.
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Long-term hormonal imbalance can make arteries less flexible and more susceptible to aneurysm formation.
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Types of Brain Aneurysms
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Saccular (berry) aneurysm - Most common type; looks like a small berry attached to a stem.
Fusiform aneurysm - Bulges out on all sides of the artery (spindle-shaped).
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Mycotic aneurysm - Caused by an infection in the arterial wall.
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Dissecting aneurysm - Occurs when a tear in the artery wall causes blood to split its layers.
When It Ruptures
If a brain aneurysm ruptures, it causes bleeding in the brain, known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) a medical emergency.
Symptoms of a Ruptured Aneurysm:
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Sudden, severe headache (“worst headache of my life”)
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Nausea and vomiting
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Stiff neck
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Blurred or double vision
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Sensitivity to light
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Seizures
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Loss of consciousness
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Sudden confusion or coma
Warning Signs of a Ruptured Aneurysm
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Sudden, severe headache (“worst headache of your life”)
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Blurred or double vision
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Neck pain or stiffness
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Nausea, vomiting, or confusion
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Loss of consciousness
Symptoms of an Unruptured Aneurysm
Most are silent and discovered by chance during brain imaging.
If large enough, they can cause:
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Pain above or behind one eye
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Dilated pupil
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Vision changes
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Numbness or weakness on one side of the face.
Recent Cases & Developments
1. Young infant with ruptured aneurysm
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A 9-month-old baby boy in Madurai, India was diagnosed with a large ruptured cerebral aneurysm after multiple seizures, loss of consciousness and coma. The Times of India
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The angiogram showed a large “saccular aneurysm” (plus multiple smaller ones) in a very young patient which is extremely rare.
2. Largest-ever reported aneurysm treated
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A 40-year-old woman from Nepal was treated in India for one of the largest brain aneurysms recorded: about 4 × 5 cm in size.
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Usually cerebral aneurysms are a few millimetres to maybe 1-2 cm; here the size is extraordinarily large - treatment is correspondingly more complex.
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Insight: “Giant” aneurysms (typically > 2.5 cm) carry higher risk of rupture, mass effect (pressing on nerves/brain tissue), and more challenging treatment (both surgical and endovascular).
3. Celebrity / public-figure disclosures
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Kim Kardashian (U.S. media personality) revealed that she has been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. She noted stress (from her divorce) as a possible contributing factor.
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Salman Khan (Bollywood actor) has disclosed that he is living with a brain aneurysm, among other neurological conditions (AVM = arteriovenous malformation).
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Kyle Sandilands (Australian radio host) announced he has been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and will require surgery. He attributed past cocaine use as a risk.
Why Brain Aneurysm Cases Are Increasing
Better Diagnostic Tools and Early Detection
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In the past, most aneurysms were found only after rupture (causing subarachnoid hemorrhage).
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Now, due to advanced imaging technologies such as MRI, CT angiography, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) doctors can detect small, unruptured aneurysms during routine scans.
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This improved detection gives the impression of an “increase”, even if the actual incidence may be stable.
Unhealthy Modern Lifestyles
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Factors such as:
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High-salt and processed food diets 🍔
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Obesity
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Physical inactivity
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High stress - all contribute to vascular degeneration and hypertension, indirectly raising aneurysm risk.
Minimally invasive wrist/hand artery access for aneurysm treatment
In Bhubaneswar (Odisha, India), a 40-year-old with a ruptured aneurysm was treated via endovascular surgery accessed through a hand artery (radial approach), which is novel in that region.
Another case: At AIIMS Bhopal, a 60-year-old female with a ruptured complex basilar-artery aneurysm got treatment via a “pinhole wrist procedure” (i.e., access through the wrist artery instead of the groin) in 2025.
The radial (wrist) or distal hand artery access is less invasive, has fewer complications (bleeding, groin site problems), and can lead to faster mobilization. These cases reflect evolving technique and wider availability of advanced neurointervention even in more regional hospitals.
Prevention and Lifestyle Advice
The best way to reduce the risk of a brain aneurysm is by making healthy lifestyle changes. Managing stress, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and keeping blood pressure under control can greatly protect your brain and blood vessels.
Physiotherapist & Health Science Writer
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