Global media personality and businesswoman Kim Kardashian has disclosed she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, a condition she attributes to the severe stress from her high-profile divorce from musician Kanye West, now legally known as Ye. The revelation was made during the season 7 premiere of the reality show “The Kardashians” on Thursday, October 23, 2025, EAT.

In the episode, the 45-year-old entrepreneur is shown undergoing a routine MRI scan which detected what she described as a “little aneurysm.” She told her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, that her doctors suggested the condition was likely caused by “stress.” Kardashian was visibly emotional in the episode, questioning why the health issue was happening to her and describing the period as the “hardest week of my life.”

Understanding the Medical Condition

A brain aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. According to the Mayo Clinic, most unruptured brain aneurysms do not cause symptoms and are often discovered during tests for other conditions. While they can be life-threatening if they rupture and cause bleeding in the brain (a hemorrhagic stroke), small, unruptured aneurysms are typically monitored by medical professionals. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation in the United States reports that approximately 1 in 50 people have an unruptured brain aneurysm.

While stress is not traditionally listed as a direct cause, medical experts note that high blood pressure, which can be exacerbated by stress, is a significant risk factor for the formation and rupture of aneurysms. Research has also increasingly pointed to the tangible effects of severe emotional and psychological distress on physical health. A 2017 study presented at the Alzheimer's International Conference suggested that major stressful life events, such as divorce, could prematurely age the brain by as much as four years.

Divorce and Public Scrutiny

Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West in February 2021, and the proceedings were finalized in November 2022. The couple, who married in May 2014, share four children. The divorce process was subject to intense global media attention, compounded by West's public statements regarding their relationship and family matters.

In the show, Kardashian alluded to the difficulty of co-parenting and protecting her children from the public fallout. “People think that I have the luxury of just walking away,” she stated, highlighting the ongoing connection to her ex-husband. She also mentioned that the stress had caused a flare-up of her psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition she has previously linked to her relationship with West.

Broader Implications for Health and Wellness

While the life of a global celebrity may seem distant, Kardashian's experience brings to light a universally relevant issue: the profound connection between mental and physical health. The discussion around her diagnosis provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the physiological consequences of chronic stress, a condition affecting millions, including many in Kenya, due to economic, social, and personal pressures.

Health professionals emphasize the importance of managing stress and monitoring risk factors like high blood pressure. Kardashian's decision to publicly share her diagnosis underscores the value of regular health screenings and brings attention to a medical condition that is relatively common but often undetected. Her story serves as a high-profile case study on how prolonged emotional turmoil can manifest in serious physical health challenges, a critical consideration for public health awareness everywhere.