Brain Aneurysm: The Silent Threat You Need to Know About
By Anshika
Understanding brain aneurysms — risk factors, warning signs of rupture, emergency treatment, and the importance of awareness.
A brain aneurysm is a weak, bulging spot on the wall of an artery in the brain. Often described as a "berry" on a blood vessel, this bulge can leak or rupture, causing a hemorrhagic stroke. An estimated 6 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm — about 1 in 50 people.
What Causes Aneurysms?
The exact cause is not fully understood, but several factors contribute: genetic connective tissue disorders, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, head trauma, and certain infections. Some aneurysms run in families.
Risk Factors
Risk factors include smoking (the most significant modifiable risk), high blood pressure, heavy alcohol consumption, drug use (particularly cocaine), female sex (women are more likely to develop aneurysms), family history of aneurysms, and certain genetic conditions.
Symptoms of an Unruptured Aneurysm
Most unruptured aneurysms cause no symptoms and are discovered incidentally during imaging for other conditions. However, larger aneurysms may cause localized headache, pain above or behind the eye, dilated pupils, double vision, or numbness on one side of the face.
Symptoms of a Ruptured Aneurysm
A ruptured aneurysm is a medical emergency. The hallmark symptom is a sudden, severe headache often described as "the worst headache of my life" or a "thunderclap headache." Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light, seizure, confusion or loss of consciousness.
Emergency Treatment
Ruptured aneurysms require immediate treatment to stop bleeding and prevent rebleeding. Surgical clipping involves placing a small clip on the aneurysm neck to block blood flow. Endovascular coiling uses a catheter threaded through blood vessels to place coils inside the aneurysm, promoting clotting.
Prevention and Screening
Manage blood pressure, quit smoking, limit alcohol, and avoid drugs. Screening is recommended for people with a family history of aneurysms or certain genetic conditions.