Celebrities who battled brain aneurysms: Salman Khan to Emilia Clarke, stories of recovery and resilience
Because, as sad as it sounds, the harsh reality is that some threatening health conditions strike without any warning, and one such condition is a brain aneurysm. From Bollywood Salman Khan to 'Game of Thrones' star Emilia Clarke, several celebrities have openly spoken about their experience with the diagnosis. Though they fought with the condition with a brave heart and straight face, their journey hasn't been easy.
What is a brain aneurysm?
Before we tread further, here's a brief description of what a brain aneurysm is. This refers to a swelling in a blood vessel within the brain, which is a result of a vulnerability in the vessel's wall. One of the horrifying things about this condition is that it develops without noticeable symptoms until it becomes significant or ruptures.
Celebrities with brain aneurysms
Salman Khan
Salman Khan, the OG superstar, who is known for his fitness and strong physique, a couple of months ago spoke about his health condition and shocked all.
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He revealed he has not one but three serious neurological conditions—brain aneurysm, arteriovenous (AV) malformation, and trigeminal neuralgia. Yet, he never lets these conditions slow him down.
'I'm out here breaking my bones every day—ribs are fractured, I'm working despite having trigeminal neuralgia, there's an aneurysm in the brain, yet I'm still working,' he said during his appearance on the Kapil Sharma show.
An AV malformation is a disorder where blood vessels develop irregularly, which impairs normal blood circulation and elevates the risk of bleeding, seizures, or headaches. On the other hand, trigeminal neuralgia is a persistent pain condition characterized by severe, shock-like facial discomfort.
Emilia Clarke
'Game of Thrones' star Emilia Clarke, known for playing Daenerys Targaryen, revealed she suffered two brain aneurysms that left her with partial brain damage.
According to a report shared by The New York Magazine, she had her first aneurysm in 2011 while she was exercising. After experiencing sharp and intense pain, she collapsed in the bathroom. Following this, she underwent emergency surgery and stayed for a month at the hospital for proper recovery.
Two years later, Clarke experienced another aneurysm on the other side of her brain, necessitating a second surgery. Despite the anxiety and doubts, she has recovered remarkably well.
Tamala Jones
Another star who was diagnosed with this condition, and fourth tooth and nail for survival, is actress Tamala Jones. She was just 23 when she survived a ruptured brain aneurysm in 1998. Recalling the terrifying moment on The Tamron Hall Show in 2023, she stated that it all started with an intense headache and a sudden loss of balance. 'I was in more pain than I'd ever felt,' she said.
With difficulty, she made it to the bathroom, where she collapsed.
On standing up, the right side of her body was numb. The good point is that Jones made a full recovery.
Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone survived a brain aneurysm and a severe hemorrhage in 2021. She had been bleeding in her brain for days before finally being rushed to the hospital. 'I fell out of the truck and became unconscious,' she recalled in an interview with the British chat show host.
The actress endured a nine-day brain bleed before undergoing emergency surgery.
Her recovery was long and difficult. It affected her speech, vision, and overall health.
Neil Young
In 2005, musician Neil Young experienced a serious brain aneurysm. Neil was 54 when he noticed something unusual in his eye that resembled broken glass. He went for an MRI confirmed the aneurysm, leading to urgent surgery in New York. Following a successful surgery, he was discharged two days later. However, shortly after, Young collapsed on the street when the aneurysm ruptured again, resulting in significant blood loss.
He then had another procedure called minimally invasive neuroradiology. Fortunately, Neil Young made a full recovery.
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