In the seventh season of the show “The Kardashians” broadcast on the Hulu platform, Kim Kardashian admitted to having suffered from a “mild brain aneurysm” due to the stress accumulated in recent years. And her ex-husband wouldn’t have anything to do with it, according to the star.
The star revealed she suffered from abnormal vessel dilation
In the series “The Kardashians”, Kim appears in a white coat, ready to have an MRI. However, a few minutes after this medical imaging examination, which makes it possible to detect possible cerebral pathologies, the diagnosis was made: the eldest of the Kardashian clan was the victim of a slight cerebral aneurysm.
“There was a small aneurysm“, she confided in tears to her sister Kourtney, specifying that this abnormal dilation of a vessel in the brain could be linked to “stress” – stemming in particular from her tumultuous relationship with rapper Kanye West.
“I wondered why the hell this was happening to me. And they told me stress could be the cause“, she confirms on camera. “This week has been the hardest of my life“, she adds, visibly very affected by the announcement.
But if the mother of four children has come a long way since then, can we really associate the occurrence of this aneurysm with stress? Here is what Dr. Gérald Kierzek thinks.
Stress: a cause of brain aneurysm?
Stress is not recognized as a direct cause of brain aneurysm formation,”but it can contribute to aggravating risk factors such as high blood pressure or influence the rupture of an aneurysm already present“, admits Dr. Gérald Kierzek. The main causes of this deformation of the membrane are:
- chronic high blood pressure;
- family or genetic history;
- consumption of tobacco, alcohol and drugs;
- vascular diseases (such as polycystic kidney disease or connective tissue disorders).
“Intense stress, however, can increase blood pressure and indirectly contribute to the progression or rupture of an existing aneurysm, especially if other risk factors are present,” specifies the emergency doctor.
However, on a medical level, no direct link has really been established.
Warning symptoms to take seriously
A small brain aneurysm is often silent, but certain signs should lead you to urgent consultation:
- Unusual, severe headaches;
- Visual and hearing problems, partial paralysis… and sudden weakness;
- Pain in the neck;
- Nausea, vomiting or some confusion;
- Slurred speech or temporary disorientation.
“These symptoms sometimes signal an impending rupture or large aneurysm, but most go unnoticed until incidentally discovered,” specifies the medical director of True Medical.
Why avoid excessive screening exams?
The multiplication of imaging examinations exposes us to the phenomenon “incidentaloma” – in other words, “an accidental discovery of small anomalies whose medical significance is uncertain and whose treatment is not always justified“, regrets Dr Gérald Kierzek. However, this phenomenon can lead to unnecessary anxiety and additional examinations…”but also overdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive treatments.”
Through these examinations, doctors are therefore faced with a real dilemma: “should we simply monitor the patient? Intervene? All without proof of benefit for minimal or stable abnormalities”, notes the expert.
The intervention can sometimes involve more risks. “And once the aneurysm is discovered, the feeling of living with a sword of Damocles over your head is real. A factor of… stress and anxiety“, continues the doctor.
What attitude should we adopt then? Rather than having MRIs like Kim Kardashian, it’s better “reserve screening examinations for people with real risk factors – or symptoms – and favor reasoned monitoring of small anomalies discovered incidentally”, concludes Dr Gérald Kierzek.