Reality star Kim Kardashian has revealed that she has been diagnosed with esophagitis, a condition involving inflammation of the oesophagus, in a preview for the upcoming eighth season of The Kardashians.
American reality television star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian has revealed that she has been diagnosed with esophagitis, a health condition that has brought painful memories of her late father, Robert Kardashian, who died from oesophageal cancer in 2003.
The 45-year-old made the revelation in the trailer for the eighth season of Hulu’s reality series, The Kardashians, released on September 17.
In the preview, Kardashian is seen discussing her condition before appearing in a hospital gown during what appears to be a medical examination or procedure.
“I have something called esophagitis,” Kardashian says in the trailer.
An unidentified person then reminds her of her father’s illness, asking whether it was the condition that caused his death. Kardashian responds in the affirmative.
The revelation visibly carries emotional weight because Robert Kardashian, a prominent American attorney and father of Kim, Kourtney, Khloé and Rob Kardashian, died at the age of 59 after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2003.
Medical experts distinguish esophagitis from oesophageal cancer.
Esophagitis refers to inflammation or irritation of the tissues lining the oesophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and drink from the mouth to the stomach.
It can have several causes, including acid reflux, infections, certain medications and other forms of irritation. Symptoms can include difficulty or pain when swallowing and chest discomfort.
Reports on Kardashian’s diagnosis have not provided detailed information about what caused her esophagitis, its severity or the specific treatment she may be receiving.
The trailer, however, shows her in a hospital setting, suggesting that the health scare was significant enough to require medical attention.
The diagnosis has also renewed attention on the Kardashian family’s connection to oesophageal health. In 2019, members of the family helped establish the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health in Los Angeles in memory of Robert Kardashian.
The centre focuses on research, treatment and education relating to oesophageal diseases.
The emotional impact of Kim’s diagnosis is also reflected in the trailer, where her mother, Kris Jenner, appears visibly upset while discussing the situation.
The preview does not establish whether Jenner’s emotional reaction is entirely connected to Kim’s diagnosis, but the family history clearly adds a deeply personal dimension to the storyline.
Kardashian has previously discussed health scares publicly through the family’s reality series, making her latest disclosure another example of how personal medical experiences have become part of the programme’s storytelling.
The eighth season of The Kardashians is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on October 8. Further details about Kardashian’s condition and treatment are expected to emerge when the new season begins streaming.
While esophagitis is not the same disease as oesophageal cancer, Kardashian’s family history gives the diagnosis particular emotional significance and highlights the importance of medical attention to persistent oesophageal symptoms.
