Kim Kardashian is opening up about a significant health scare — and how stress may have played a part.
During the Season 7 premiere of The Kardashians, which aired on Hulu on October 22, the reality star and SKIMS founder revealed that she was recently diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Kim, 45, shared that the discovery came after undergoing an MRI scan, where doctors found what she described as a “little aneurysm.”
“There’s like a little aneurysm,” she said in the episode. “They’re like, ‘It’s just stress.’ And I’m like, people think I have the luxury of walking away. My ex will be in my life no matter what — we have four kids together.”
Kardashian became emotional as she reflected on the toll her divorce from Kanye West (now legally known as Ye) has taken on her mental and physical health.
“I’m happy it’s over,” she said tearfully. “My ex will be in my life no matter what. We have four kids together.”
Kim and West, who married in 2014, finalized their divorce in 2022. They share four children: North, 12, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6.
In the episode, Kim opened up about how the stress from her split — and ongoing co-parenting challenges — may have contributed to her health issues.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a brain aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel in the brain caused by a weak spot in the vessel wall. While most aneurysms are small and harmless if unruptured, they can become life-threatening if they burst, causing bleeding in the brain.
“Last night I was like, ‘Why the f— is this happening?’” Kim said in the episode. “You’re not allowed to tell anyone. Okay, I’m serious. Okay, dear Heavenly Father, give me the patience. It’s not that big of a deal.”
The SKKN founder also revealed that her psoriasis, a chronic skin condition she has battled for years, recently flared up again after being dormant since her divorce — another sign, she said, of renewed emotional strain.
“I haven’t had psoriasis since I got divorced, and it just started coming back,” she shared.
While Kim’s doctors told her that stress was likely to blame, experts say the link between emotional stress and brain aneurysms isn’t entirely proven.
Dr. Brian Hoeflinger, a neurosurgeon with more than two decades of experience, says that most unruptured aneurysms are “small and harmless,” but should constantly be monitored closely.
The American Heart Association notes that chronic stress can contribute to heart and vascular issues by raising blood pressure — a known risk factor for aneurysms. Other risk factors include family history, smoking, high blood pressure, and inflammation.
Dr. Laura Stein, an associate professor of neurology, adds that women between 30 and 60 are more likely to develop aneurysms than men.
Elsewhere in the episode, Kim got candid about her past relationship with West, saying she believes she developed Stockholm Syndrome. In this coping mechanism, people form emotional attachments to their abusers.
“I just didn’t realize how much I was adapting to survive,” she said. “Now my focus is protecting my kids. They’re gonna grow up and see things. My job as a mom is to make sure they’re protected.”
According to The New York Times, roughly one in 50 people in the U.S. has an unruptured brain aneurysm — though most never experience symptoms. Because Kim’s was found early, doctors say it can be safely monitored and managed.
Kim said she’s focusing on gratitude and healing as she looks ahead.
“I’ve learned that stress doesn’t just affect your mind — it affects your body,” she shared. “I’m just thankful we caught it early.”
