Kim Kardashian’s newest health concern has left her family deeply worried.
In the Season 8 trailer for “The Kardashians,” released Friday, the 44-year-old Skims founder disclosed that she has “something called esophagitis.”
The preview shows Kim wearing a hospital gown and lying in what appears to be a hospital bed when an off-camera voice asks, “Didn’t your father… isn’t it what he died of?”
The trailer then shifts to an emotional Kris Jenner, who struggles to hold back tears during a confessional. “I can’t; it makes me want to cry,” she said.
Still, the alarming family moment does not mean Kim has received a life-threatening diagnosis.
Although Kim’s esophagitis may evoke memories of the esophageal cancer that killed her father at age 59, the likelihood that her condition will progress to the disease is low.
The revelation comes roughly a year after Kim, 45, said an MRI had found a “little aneurysm” in her brain. Doctors believed stress was likely a factor, and she later assured viewers that she was doing well, telling “Good Morning America,” “Everything works out.”
Here is what to know about Kim Kardashian’s latest health revelation and esophagitis.
What is esophagitis?
Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus, the muscular tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Symptoms of esophagitis can include heartburn, trouble swallowing or pain while swallowing, a sore throat, the sensation of food being stuck in the throat, mouth sores, nausea and vomiting. More serious cases can also lead to bleeding.
What causes esophagitis?
There are a few different culprits.
One of the most common causes is gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, in which stomach acid repeatedly backs up into the esophagus, according to Harvard Health.
Certain medications can also irritate the esophagus and lead to drug-induced esophagitis. These include commonly used drugs like aspirin, doxycycline, iron supplements, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and some osteoporosis medications.
Infections can cause esophagitis as well, though this is more common in people with weakened immune systems.
Then there’s eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE, a rare chronic condition in which white blood cells called eosinophils build up in the esophagus, causing inflammation and damage.
How is esophagitis related to esophageal cancer?
Over time, chronic inflammation can lead to complications like Barrett’s esophagus, per the Mayo Clinic.
This condition strikes when stomach acid regularly flows back into the lower esophagus, often because of GERD. The ongoing exposure can damage the normal lining of the esophagus. As the body tries to repair that damage, the usual cells lining the esophagus can be replaced by cells that look more like those found in the intestines.
Barrett’s esophagus can increase the chance of developing esophageal cancer, although the risk remains low. For this reason, doctors may recommend regular monitoring to look for early cell changes and, if necessary, remove abnormal tissue before it develops into cancer.
How is esophagitis treated?
Fortunately, the esophagus can heal once the cause of the irritation is identified and addressed.
Treatment may include medications, such as those that help control acid reflux, reduce inflammation or treat fungal or viral infections.
Lifestyle changes may also help, including avoiding foods and drinks that trigger acid reflux or switching medications that irritate the esophagus.
Kim has yet to reveal publicly what type of esophagitis she has or what caused the inflammation. More details are expected to emerge when the new season of “The Kardashians” premieres on Hulu October 8.
It is unclear whether her father, Robert Kardashian, had been diagnosed with esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus before he died of esophageal cancer in 2003 at age 59.