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Potentially fatal brain aneurysm explained after Kim Kardashian's diagnosis

Kim Kardashian revealed she has a small brain aneurysm in the latest preview of her reality show

[Kim Kardashian]

Kim Kardashian revealed she has suffered a small brain aneurysm (Image: GETTY)

Kim Kardashian disclosed in a preview clip from The Kardashians' latest series that she had undergone brain imaging which revealed a "little" brain aneurysm. She said in the brief video: "They're like; 'Just stress '. People think I have the luxury of walking away."

A brain aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel in the brain weakens and begins to bulge under pressure. Approximately 3% of UK adults are thought to be living with a brain aneurysm, with most being small and presenting no immediate danger.

Nevertheless, should a brain aneurysm burst, it can lead to bleeding in the brain and develop into a medical emergency called a haemorrhagic stroke. This requires urgent treatment or it could prove fatal.

Details about Kim's present condition remains unclear. It also hasn't been disclosed whether she was experiencing any symptoms prior to the imaging scan, as it's typical not to realise you have an aneurysm.

Most small aneurysms don't produce symptoms and are typically discovered during tests for other conditions or ailments. Larger aneurysms can cause a range of problems that might easily be confused with minor issues.

[Doctor with a brain scan]

Small aneurysms are usually found while testing for another condition(Image: GETTY)

Symptoms of a large aneurysm:

• A headache
• Pain above or around your eye
• Changes in your vision, such as double vision
• Dizziness and balance problems
• Numbness or weakness on 1 side of your face
• Difficulty concentrating and speaking
• Problems with your short-term memory

If a brain aneurysm bursts, the main symptom is known as a thunderclap headache. This headache is severe and unlike normal headaches that gradually worsen without treatment, it reaches peak intensity within a minute or so of starting.

The NHS advises calling 999 if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• A thunderclap headache that's extremely painful and does not go away
• Weakness in the face
• Weakness or numbness in 1 arm or down 1 side of the body
• Speech problems
• Blurred vision or loss of sight in 1 or both eyes

People experiencing a brain aneurysm may find that one side of their face starts to droop, making it hard to smile, or it becomes difficult to lift both arms fully and keep them there. They may also start slurring words, sounding confused or struggling to speak and find the right words.

[Person experiencing a thunderclap headache]

The key sign of a rupture is what's known as a thunderclap headache(Image: GETTY)

It's not always clear what causes a brain aneurysm, but certain factors like stress, high blood pressure smoking and drugs like cocaine can increase your chances of having an aneurysm.

Small aneurysms usually don't need treatment, provided they are not causing symptoms, as they usually don't get bigger and have a low risk of bursting, according to the NHS. However, you may need regular follow-up scans to monitor it.

If there's a danger of the aneurysm rupturing, or if it has already done so, surgical intervention will be necessary. There are two primary surgical procedures used to treat this condition.

One involves attaching a small metal clip to the affected blood vessel, effectively halting blood flow into the aneurysm. The second procedure involves placing a coil or small piece of wire mesh inside the aneurysm. This reduces the rate of blood flow into it and aids in the formation of a blood clot.

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