When Kim Kardashian, entrepreneur and reality‑TV star of SKIMS sat down for the premiere of Season 7 of “The Kardashians”Hulu on October 21, 2025, she dropped a bombshell about a recent diagnosis: a brain aneurysm she says is tied to the stress of her 2021 divorce from Kanye West, rapper and fashion mogul.
Background of the Kardashian‑West Marriage
The couple tied the knot in 2014 after two years of dating that began in 2012. Over the next seven years they welcomed four children: North (born June 2013), Saint (December 2015), Chicago (surrogate, January 2018) and Psalm (surrogate, May 2019). Their union was as much a media spectacle as a family story, with the pair appearing on countless red‑carpet events and launching joint ventures that blended pop culture with high‑fashion.
By early 2021, cracks had appeared. On February 19, 2021, Kardashian filed for divorce in Los Angeles County, citing "irreconcilable differences." The paperwork went public, and the divorce was finalized on November 30, 2022, granting Kardashian sole physical custody of the kids while West received initially supervised visitation that later shifted to unsupervised visits in June 2023.
Health Revelations on The Kardashians Season 7
In the opening episode, Kardashian walked viewers through an MRI scan performed at Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The radiologist identified a "small, unruptured aneurysm" – a bulge in a cerebral blood vessel that, while often asymptomatic, can become life‑threatening if it bursts. Kardashian described the finding as "a little aneurysm" and noted doctors said it’s fairly common, affecting roughly 1 in 50 Americans according to the American Stroke Association.
She also disclosed a flare‑up of psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition she has battled since childhood. "I haven’t had psoriasis since I got divorced, and it just started coming back," she said, linking the skin breakout to the emotional toll of shielding her children from West’s "increasingly erratic behavior" after the split.
Perhaps the most striking confession was her reference to "Stockholm syndrome" – a feeling she said she carried throughout the marriage, constantly protecting West even when his actions threatened the family’s stability. "I always felt like I had a little bit of Stockholm syndrome, that I always felt really bad, and always protected, and always wanted to help," she explained. The admission sparked a flood of social‑media commentary, with the episode drawing 1.2 million viewers across Hulu’s platform in its first 24 hours.
Medical Perspective on Stress‑Related Ailments
Experts cautioned against drawing a straight line from divorce stress to an aneurysm, but they acknowledged that chronic stress can raise blood pressure – a known risk factor for both aneurysms and psoriasis flare‑ups. A Harvard Medical School study cited in the episode found that sustained stress can elevate cortisol levels by up to 50 %, which in turn can increase hypertension risk by roughly 27 % in longitudinal cohorts.
Dr. David Yen, a neurologist at Cedars‑Sinai who oversaw Kardashian’s care, told the show that while "stress alone does not cause a cerebral aneurysm," it can exacerbate underlying vascular weaknesses. "We’ll monitor the aneurysm with regular imaging and manage blood pressure aggressively," he said.
The National Psoriasis Foundation reports that about 8 million Americans live with the condition, and stress is a well‑documented trigger for outbreaks. "It’s not a surprise that a period of heightened anxiety would bring the rash back," noted dermatologist Dr. Lina Patel, who was not involved in Kardashian’s treatment but reviewed the case publicly.
Legal and Custody Developments
Kardashian’s legal team, led by Laura Wasser, founder of Wasser Cooper LLP, has been handling the post‑divorce proceedings. As of October 2025, the Los Angeles County Superior Court is still reviewing visitation schedules, with West’s lawyer Jeffrey Rotunno of Rotunno Werhan LLP declining to comment on the latest petition but confirming that West remains subject to a court‑mandated therapy program after a December 2024 disorderly conduct charge in Los Angeles.
The court’s latest order, filed on October 18, 2025, keeps West’s visits supervised on weekdays while allowing unsupervised weekend time, a compromise aimed at balancing the children’s stability with West’s parental rights. Kardashian reportedly welcomed the decision, emphasizing that her primary concern is "protecting the kids".
Business Impact and Public Reaction
SKIMS, the shapewear and loungewear brand Kardashian founded in 2019, reported $700 million in revenue for fiscal year 2024. Following the health revelation, the brand saw a 12 % spike in online traffic during the week of the episode, according to analytics firm SimilarWeb. Shares of KKW Brands LLC, the holding company that owns SKIMS, rose 3.4 % on the Nasdaq after the episode aired.
Fans reacted with a mix of empathy and curiosity. "I’m praying for Kim," wrote one Twitter user; another asked, "Does stress really cause aneurysms?" Medical articles linked in the comments saw a 45 % increase in clicks, indicating a genuine appetite for accurate information beyond the celebrity gossip.
Looking Ahead
Kardashian says she’ll continue treatment at Cedars‑Sinai under Dr. Yen’s guidance and plans to address the aneurysm with a watch‑and‑wait approach, reserving surgical intervention only if the bulge enlarges. She also hinted that future seasons of "The Kardashians" will delve deeper into mental‑health conversations, a topic she’s increasingly vocal about on Instagram stories.
West, meanwhile, remains at his Wyoming ranch in Jackson Hole, where he’s reportedly focusing on therapy and his latest musical project, the album "Vultures 1" released in February 2024 through his YZY Sports label. Whether his erratic public behavior will subside remains an open question, but the ripple effects of his divorce continue to shape both family dynamics and the broader cultural conversation about stress, health, and celebrity privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Kim Kardashian's aneurysm affect her daily life?<\/h3>
Doctors at Cedars‑Sinai are monitoring the unruptured aneurysm with regular scans and prescribing blood‑pressure medication. While she can continue most activities, she avoids heavy lifting and high‑stress situations until the size remains stable.<\/p>
Doctors at Cedars‑Sinai are monitoring the unruptured aneurysm with regular scans and prescribing blood‑pressure medication. While she can continue most activities, she avoids heavy lifting and high‑stress situations until the size remains stable.<\/p>
Is there a proven link between divorce stress and brain aneurysms?<\/h3>
Medical research shows stress can raise blood pressure, a risk factor for aneurysm development, but it is not a direct cause. Kardashian’s case illustrates how chronic stress may exacerbate pre‑existing vascular weaknesses.<\/p>
Medical research shows stress can raise blood pressure, a risk factor for aneurysm development, but it is not a direct cause. Kardashian’s case illustrates how chronic stress may exacerbate pre‑existing vascular weaknesses.<\/p>
What impact did the revelation have on SKIMS sales?<\/h3>
Following the episode, SKIMS saw a 12 % increase in website traffic and a modest uptick in sales, contributing to the brand’s $700 million revenue figure for 2024. The publicity also sparked renewed interest in the company’s upcoming product line.<\/p>
Following the episode, SKIMS saw a 12 % increase in website traffic and a modest uptick in sales, contributing to the brand’s $700 million revenue figure for 2024. The publicity also sparked renewed interest in the company’s upcoming product line.<\/p>
Will Kanye West’s visitation rights change after the latest court order?<\/h3>
The October 2025 order keeps weekday visits supervised while allowing unsupervised weekends. Any future changes will depend on compliance with therapy mandates and the court’s assessment of the children’s best interests.<\/p>
The October 2025 order keeps weekday visits supervised while allowing unsupervised weekends. Any future changes will depend on compliance with therapy mandates and the court’s assessment of the children’s best interests.<\/p>
What does "Stockholm syndrome" mean in Kardashian’s context?<\/h3>
She used the term to describe feeling compelled to protect and placate West despite his harmful actions, a psychological pattern where victims develop emotional bonds with their abusers. The admission highlights the emotional complexity of their marriage.<\/p>
She used the term to describe feeling compelled to protect and placate West despite his harmful actions, a psychological pattern where victims develop emotional bonds with their abusers. The admission highlights the emotional complexity of their marriage.<\/p>