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“I’m working despite having trigeminal neuralgia, there is an aneurysm in the brain, yet I’m still working. There’s also an AV malformation,” said Salman Khan
Salman Khan opened up about his health on a show on Netflix. (PTI File)
Actor Salman Khan, during his recent appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix, revealed that he was battling three major medical conditions – brain aneurysm, trigeminal neuralgia, and arteriovenous (AV) malformation.
“I’m out here breaking my bones every day – ribs are fractured, I’m working despite having trigeminal neuralgia, there is an aneurysm in the brain, yet I’m still working. There’s also an AV malformation, and still, I’m carrying on,” said the 59-year-old actor.
All you need to know about the three conditions:
WHAT IS BRAIN ANEURYSM?
A brain aneurysm, or cerebral aneurysm, is a potentially life-threatening condition involving a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain that balloons outward, forming a bulge. This outpouching can look like a small blister or balloon, and while many remain harmless and undetected, others can rupture and lead to bleeding in or around the brain. This bulge occurs due to the continuous pressure of blood flowing through weakened arterial walls. Over time, this pressure stretches the vessel, thinning it out and increasing the risk of rupture, much like an overinflated balloon that may suddenly pop.
If it ruptures…
A ruptured brain aneurysm leads to a subarachnoid haemorrhage – a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the space surrounding the brain. This sudden bleed can cause brain tissue to swell and raise intracranial pressure, which can be fatal or severely disabling. The hallmark sign of a ruptured aneurysm is a sudden, intense headache, often described as the worst headache of one’s life – a “thunderclap headache.” Other symptoms may follow rapidly, including loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, seizures, sensitivity to light, vision disturbances, neck stiffness, cognitive confusion or sudden behavioural changes.
The risk factors are:
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
- Drug use, particularly cocaine or amphetamines
- Genetic disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or polycystic kidney disease
- A family history of aneurysms or hemorrhagic stroke
- Head trauma or infection affecting arteries (though rare)
WHAT IS TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA?
In trigeminal neuralgia, the nerve misfires, sending sudden, severe, and shock-like pain signals to the brain, often without any external trigger, or in response to light touch or movement. It usually affects one side of the face and most often involves the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or eye area.
The symptoms
- Sudden, intense facial pain (often described as stabbing, electric-shock-like). Episodes last seconds to a few minutes, but may recur in rapid succession.
- Pain is often triggered by simple actions such as brushing teeth, shaving, talking, eating, or even a light breeze.
It has two types
- Type 1 (Typical TN) – Sudden attacks of severe, shooting pain with symptom-free intervals.
- Type 2 (Atypical TN) – Constant, aching or burning pain that may be less intense but more widespread and persistent.
The causes
- Often caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve, usually by a nearby blood vessel.
- Can also result from multiple sclerosis, tumors pressing on the nerve, facial trauma or at time with no identifiable cause (idiopathic).
WHAT IS AV MALFORMATION?
An AV malformation (AVM) — short for arteriovenous malformation — is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, bypassing the normal capillary system. It disrupts the normal flow of blood and oxygen, and can occur in many parts of the body, but is most serious when located in the brain or spinal cord.
The symptoms
- Sudden, severe headache
- Seizures
- Vision problems
- Muscle weakness or numbness
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- In many cases, first symptom is a brain haemorrhage
The complications
- Haemorrhage (bleeding): The most serious complication. Brain AVMs can cause stroke or death if they rupture.
- Seizures
- Headaches
- Neurological deficits (e.g., weakness, numbness, vision or speech problems)
- Heart failure in newborns with large AVMs
The causes
- Usually congenital (present at birth), though often not inherited.
- May remain asymptomatic for years.
They can occur in
- Brain (cerebral AVM) – most common and serious
- Spinal cord
- Lungs, liver, or other organs
- Skin or soft tissues
At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies …Read More
At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies … Read More
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