"Kim" is a common name, and several public figures with this name have had health issues. The most prominent recent news involves Kim Kardashian being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and actor Kim Woo-bin battling nasopharyngeal cancer.
Kim Kardashian publicly shared she was diagnosed with a small brain aneurysm, a bulge in a blood vessel, discovered during an MRI for her show, though she later confirmed it was likely something she'd had for years, not an acute crisis, and she's fine, while also managing her long-standing psoriasis. She suggested the stress from her divorce might have contributed to her health concerns, but subsequent updates showed monitoring and no immediate danger, with doctors finding low brain activity after more scans.
Kim Kardashian revealed she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm in a teaser for the new season of her family's reality TV show, "The Kardashians." She appears to blame the diagnosis on stress — but doctors say that usually isn't a direct cause.
Doctors had discovered a “little” aneurysm, which is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain, per the Mayo Clinic. Kim said, “Whoa,” and put her hand on her chest when she received the news.
Lifestyle habits
Symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm
Although there is limited research on the direct effect of dietary choices on aneurysm risk, some studies have pointed to fruit, vegetables, and nuts as helping reduce risk, while eating red meat may increase that risk.
“I did a prenuvo scan and they called me today and they're like, 'Everything looks great, but you have an aneurysm in your brain,' and they're like, 'It's been there for years.
You can live a long time with an unruptured brain aneurysm, as many never cause problems, but a ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening emergency with high mortality, though survival rates are improving with treatment. For ruptured brain aneurysms, about half die within 3 months, but those who survive treatment can live many years, with improved long-term survival seen in children and adults after successful surgery, while ruptured aortic aneurysms have grim immediate outcomes but better long-term survival after repair.
Kourtney Kardashian's baby, Rocky Thirteen Barker, had a rare condition where there was fluid in his lungs, requiring emergency fetal surgery while still in the womb to prevent serious complications like heart failure, with the fluid sometimes returning post-surgery, leading to significant fear and a need for close monitoring, but ultimately they were lucky to catch it and manage the issue successfully.
Kim Kardashian has publicly shared diagnoses and health experiences, including psoriatic arthritis, positive antibody tests for lupus/rheumatoid arthritis (leading to stress-related health concerns), and a recent brain aneurysm diagnosis linked to stress. She also speaks about her daughter North's dyslexia, advocating for parents of children with learning differences, and has faced discussions about using disabled models in her brands, sparking debates on representation and inclusion.
She lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks to fit into her vintage Met Gala gown. How did Kardashian lose weight? She says she cut carbs and ate “just the cleanest veggies and protein.” She also ran on a treadmill and wore a sauna suit twice a day. Kardashian's 3-week weight loss sparked concern over the impact on mental health.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West paid their first surrogate around $113,850 total for their daughter Chicago, which included a nearly $70,000 agency fee and about $45,000 in monthly payments to the surrogate, plus bonuses for multiples. For their second surrogate-born child, Psalm, reports suggest a similar arrangement with comparable fees for another surrogate.
'I feel this in my bones. I probably have lupus,' she says in the season 17 trailer, as momager Kris reassures her. It turns out Kim Kardashian doesn't have lupus.
The link here is that stress can increase your risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk of experiencing a brain aneurysm. However, stress itself does not cause brain aneurysm formation.
On July 16, Kim Kardashian opened up about her son's autoimmune disease, which was revealed to be vitiligo, that she claimed to have passed down to him.
The warning signs of a brain aneurysm
But your lifestyle also has an impact.
“Thirty percent of people don't survive a ruptured aneurysm – many don't even make it to the hospital. It took the fast action of a multidisciplinary team to successfully care for Julianne. It's not just one person that got her through this, it was a whole group effort,” says Dr. Moore.
In Kardashian's case, she has mentioned stress as a contributing factor. Although stress itself does not directly cause aneurysms, it can increase blood pressure.
Yes, Kim Kardashian is generally considered richer than Taylor Swift, though both are billionaires, with Kardashian often leading due to her successful businesses like SKIMS, while Swift's wealth comes from music, tours (like The Eras Tour), and films. Recent reports (late 2025) place Kardashian's net worth around $1.9 billion, slightly ahead of Swift's $1.6 billion, though these figures fluctuate.
On October 14, Kim Kardashian made a controversial splash in the undergarment and shapewear world with the announcement of SKIMS full-bush panties that resemble 17th century merkins and sell for $32 a pop.
High blood pressure, cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol abuse are common risk factors. Polycystic kidney disease also increases the risk of brain aneurysm development and should trigger screening for vascular imaging of the brain.
8 Superfoods for Brain Health
About 80% of all strokes are ischemic strokes, which are caused by a blood clot that blocks a blood vessel or artery in the brain. About 20% are hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by a blood vessel in the brain that breaks and bleeds into the brain.