The ‘Kim Kardashian Effect’ – Sharing Facts not Fear about brain aneurysms in the National Media
- HBA Support
- Oct 28
- 2 min read
After Kim Kardashian’s announcement of a brain aneurysm diagnosis, HBA Support (the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting people affected by brain aneurysms) was pleased to have the opportunity to be featured in The i Paper and MSN, to help provide important context on why brain aneurysms are more common than many people realise.
In line with our mission, at HBA Support, we want to share and support balanced facts to help reduce fear and misinformation around this condition.
As Rebecca Middleton, Founder of HBA Support, explains: “We’re pleased to support this conversation and take the opportunity to raise awareness of the condition. We hope that the ‘Kim Effect’ will be a positive one, shining a light on our condition and our community. Above all, we want to replace fear with facts and show that many people go on to live full, healthy lives.”
Kim Kardashian has been diagnosed with an unruptured brain aneurysm. This can sound worrying if you’re unfamiliar with the condition, but brain aneurysms are not dangerous unless they rupture - which is when the aneurysm bursts and causes a life-threatening bleed in the brain, known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Brain aneurysms are more common than most people think. Around 1 in 30 people has one: that’s approximately two million people in the UK living with an unruptured aneurysm. The vast majority live completely normal, healthy lives without ever knowing they have one.
In rare cases (around 5,000 people each year), an aneurysm can rupture, which can be life-threatening.
The good news is that when aneurysms are detected early, as Kim’s was, they are highly treatable. Thousands of people live safely with monitored aneurysms, and hundreds are successfully treated each month on the NHS before returning to full, active lives.
While sporadic aneurysms are difficult to screen for – with many found incidentally during scans for other reasons, as Kim’s was – research shows that around 1 in 8 people with aneurysms have a hereditary form of the condition. This means it can run in families.
That’s why we’re asking people to know their family history. Around 650 hereditary brain aneurysm ruptures each year in the UK could be prevented through early detection.
If two or more people in your family have had a brain aneurysm, it may be hereditary. Please speak to your GP about your family history and any concerns.
For those diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm, like Kim, you are not alone – and this diagnosis does not define your future. With proper medical care and support, people with brain aneurysms continue to live well.
To see the full articles, quoting Rebecca, please follow the links: The i Paper and MSN
