Kim Kardashian’s Brain Aneurysm Scare: Doctors Reveal Symptoms Women Should Never Ignore
Learn who's most at risk and why you shouldn't panic if you're diagnosed
Brain aneurysms are often not top of mind when it comes to protecting your health—until someone you know gets one. Kim Kardashian, 45, revealed last week that doctors spotted an aneurysm during a routine scan. And she’s far from alone. According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, roughly 6.8 million people in the U.S. have an unruptured brain aneurysm, making it more common than many of us realized. We spoke with medical experts to understand the brain aneurysm symptoms you need to know, who’s most at risk and treatment options available.
What is a brain aneurysm?
“A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in the artery wall that causes it to bulge out,” says Sirisha Vadali, MD, a board-certified non-invasive cardiologist and advanced lipidologist. “Although it sounds scary, most of them are benign and typically stay small and do not cause any issues.” They’re usually more problematic when they’re larger and rupture. When they bleed out, they can cause serious damage. Dr. Vadali notes.
Woman's World Answers
Common risk factors
“An aneurysm typically forms when flowing blood puts pressure on a spot of the vessel wall that is relatively weak,” says Mia Kazanjian, MD, a board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging.
Dr. Vadali and Dr. Kazanjian say factors that can increase the risk of a brain aneurysm include:
- High blood pressure
- Brain trauma
- History of smoking
- Atherosclerosis deposits (plaque buildups in the arteries) causing irregular blood vessel walls
- Aging blood vessels
“However, there are a lot of patients that have them without these risk markers, and we have to assume that they were genetically inherited,” says Dr. Vadali. Indeed, a family history of aneurysms may increase your risk.
In addition to the risk factors above, the Mayo Clinic notes that you may be more likely to experience weakness in an artery wall or a ruptured brain aneurysm if you are a woman, have a connective tissue disorder such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, have polycystic kidney disease (PKD) or drink heavily.
Can stress cause a brain aneurysm?
In a teaser for the season premiere of The Kardashians which aired October 23rd on Hulu, Kim Kardashian revealed that she had been recently diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
In the clip, Kim says, “There’s, like, a little aneurysm.” A small aneurysm is considered anything less than 5 mm, says Dr. Vadali. “A ‘little aneurysm’ is usually monitored, and unless it is in a dangerous location is usually not operated on.”
Kim also said she was told the aneurysm was due to stress, and Dr. Vadali confirms that chronic tension could play a role. “Stress has a direct impact on vascular health,” says Dr. Vadali. “It truly does make the vasculature throughout the body more ‘weak.’ The chronic stress of Kim Kardashian’s life likely caused minor levels of inflammation and slightly elevated blood pressure that could have contributed. Again, these would not be changes that would be dramatically seen or caught on a regular visit, but rather the changes that happen over a long period of time causing the wall of the artery to be weaker than usual.”
Brain aneurysm symptoms you should never ignore
While some conditions show early warning signs and symptoms, brain aneurysms often do not. “Brain aneurysms have no early warning signs,” says Dr. Vadali. “Unfortunately, most are silent until they rupture.”
The symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm include:
- Sudden severe headache: “This is sometimes described as the ‘worst headache of my life,’” says Dr. Vadali.
- Double vision or visual changes: “[This] can be related to the aneurysm being located close to the nearby nerves that control the vision center,” says Dr. Vadali.
- Stroke-like symptoms: “Difficulty finding words, numbness and weakness on one side of the body can all be related to an aneurysm that is compromising blood flow,” says Dr. Vadali.
- Pain around the eyes: “[It’s] caused by the intra-ocular pressure buildup after rupture occurs,” says Dr. Vadali.
If you notice any symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm, seek help immediately.
Do you really need a routine MRI?
Kim received her brain aneurysm diagnosis through what she referred to as a routine MRI, though that type of imaging test is not part of a typical physical. While the type of MRI she received isn’t specified, Dr. Vadali explains that there’s a particular kind used to detect aneurysms.
“An MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram) is the specific kind of MRI that helps detect these aneurysms,” says Dr. Vadali. “This uses contrast imaging to visualize the blood vessels of the brain and map out the exact location and size.”
So, should you request routine MRIs from your doctor? Probably not. “Routine MRIs are not recommended,” says Dr. Vadali. “If there is a genetic, family history or high suspicion of aneurysm, then MRI can be considered. However, risk-benefit ratio and targeted testing is always recommended.”
Brain aneurysm treatment options
As mentioned earlier, if you have a small brain aneurysm, it’s typically monitored but not treated. If you have a larger aneurysm at risk of rupturing or one that has ruptured, the Mayo Clinic reports that your doctor may recommend surgery to clip the aneurysm or endovascular treatment, a less invasive procedure that helps stop blood from flowing to the aneurysm.
While brain aneurysms can be scary, the good news is that knowledge is power. By staying informed about your risk factors, recognizing the warning signs and having open conversations with your doctor, you’re taking meaningful steps to protect your health.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
