4 scary signs of a brain aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is a bulging or ballooning part of a blood vessel wall due to a weakness in the wall... It can become so thin that it leaks or ruptures, causing blood to leak into the area around the brain called the subarachnoid space.

Sudden, severe headache

In a brain aneurysm, the headache can be excruciating, often described as the worst headache of your life. The cause? The leaking blood irritates the brain's cortex, causing pain. It is unlike a regular headache in that the pain comes on suddenly and is very severe.

Sudden double vision or ptosis

This could be due to the enlarged aneurysm pressing on the oculomotor nerve. If you suddenly have eye problems – double vision, drooping eyelids – seek medical attention immediately. This is not a condition that can wait and see how it develops.

Weakness or numbness in one side of the body or face

Another sign is when half of the face or one side of the body begins to go numb. This is caused by small blood clots escaping from the aneurysm and blocking small blood vessels to important areas of the brain. The aneurysm is like a large “blister” with a thin wall that can burst and allow blood to leak out.

Digestive problems

A person with a brain aneurysm may experience nausea or vomiting. Bleeding and headaches can cause this condition. So the headache may occur first, followed by nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Other common symptoms include bleeding, dizziness, photophobia, and a stiff neck. "All are related to bleeding in the brain or, in some cases, increased intracranial pressure or the aneurysm pressing on related structures.

Risk factors

Risk factors that contribute to the formation of cerebral aneurysms include: Smoking; high blood pressure; family history of cerebral aneurysms; age over 40; gender: compared to men, women have an increased incidence of cerebral aneurysms at a ratio of 3:2; having other disorders: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, Marfan syndrome, fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD); drug use, especially cocaine; infection; tumor; head trauma.

Treatment of cerebral aneurysms

Some unruptured aneurysms can be left alone and monitored. Others require minimally invasive surgery. Still others require open surgery to clamp the weakened area.

Treatment depends on the severity. Treatments for unruptured brain aneurysms include medications to control blood pressure and procedures to prevent future ruptures.

Ruptured aneurysms require emergency treatment.

According to Dantri