Kim Kardashian is opening up about a health diagnosis that hits close to home for her family. The 45-year-old mogul reveals in the newly released trailer for The Kardashians Season 8 that doctors found she has esophagitis — a condition tied to the same organ where her late father, Robert Kardashian, developed the cancer that killed him. Here's everything you need to know about the diagnosis and the condition itself.
Key Facts
- Kim Kardashian, 45, reveals an esophagitis diagnosis in The Kardashians Season 8 trailer, released September 17.
- Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
- Her father, Robert Kardashian, died of esophageal cancer in 2003 at age 59.
- Esophagitis and esophageal cancer are related but not the same condition.
- Season 8 of The Kardashians returns to Hulu in October.
What Happened in the Trailer
The Season 8 teaser opens on a somber note. Kardashian is shown resting in a hospital bed, hooked up to monitoring equipment, when she tells cameras, "I have something called esophagitis." An off-camera voice then references her late father — asking whether esophagitis was what he died from.
Kardashian confirms it. Her mother, Kris Jenner, is shown reacting to the news in a separate clip, saying only that the diagnosis "makes me want to cry." The trailer does not reveal what caused Kardashian's diagnosis or how it was treated — those details are expected to unfold once the season premieres.
What Is Esophagitis, Exactly
Esophagitis is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus becomes swollen, inflamed or irritated, according to MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's consumer health resource. It's a fairly common gastrointestinal issue, and — importantly — it is not the same thing as esophageal cancer.
That distinction matters here. Esophagitis and esophageal cancer are not the same condition, though the two are connected: chronic, untreated esophagitis can progress toward more serious complications over time.
The Family Connection to Robert Kardashian's Death
The trailer's emotional weight comes from timing and history. Robert Kardashian died of esophageal cancer in 2003 at age 59 — the same attorney known for joining O.J. Simpson's defense team during the 1995 murder trial, and the father of Kim, Kourtney, Khloé and Rob Kardashian.
The family hasn't stayed quiet on the subject since. In 2019, Kardashian joined Kris Jenner and her sisters in establishing the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health in Los Angeles, a program aimed at research and early detection for esophageal disease. Her new diagnosis brings that cause back into the spotlight in a deeply personal way.
Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Doctors point to a wide range of possible triggers. Alcohol use, cigarette smoking, surgery or radiation to the chest, vomiting, lying down after eating a large meal, and obesity can all increase the risk of developing esophagitis. Certain medications — including potassium tablets and vitamin C — can also irritate the esophagus if not taken with enough water.
Common symptoms include painful or difficult swallowing, a burning sensation in the chest, and the feeling that food is stuck in the throat. The good news: outcomes are typically favorable. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but can include medication to reduce stomach acid, antibiotics or antivirals for infections, and diet changes — and most cases respond well to treatment once identified.
Left unaddressed, though, chronic inflammation can scar or narrow the esophagus, or develop into Barrett's esophagus — a change in the esophageal lining that carries an increased long-term cancer risk. That's the exact chain of events doctors watch closely in patients with a family history like Kardashian's.
Kim's History of Health Scares on the Show
This isn't the first time Kardashian has used the Hulu series to share a medical update. During Season 7, she revealed she'd been diagnosed with a small brain aneurysm, a storyline that played out across several episodes as she underwent additional scans at Cedars-Sinai. She later reassured fans that things had settled, telling viewers that "everything works out."
Now, the esophagitis reveal adds a second major health thread to her story arc — one that's landing with extra emotional resonance given her father's history.
What's Next for The Kardashians Season 8
Season 8 is set to premiere on Hulu in October, and the trailer suggests Kardashian's diagnosis will be a central storyline early on. Fans can expect more context on how she was diagnosed, what treatment looked like, and how the rest of the family — including Kourtney Kardashian and Khloé Kardashian — processed the news on camera.
Sources: NBC News · ABC News · E! News · SheKnows
