Do you know the early signs of a brain aneurysm?
Every 18 minutes, someone in the United States has a brain aneurysm rupture, according to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. There also are an estimated 6.8 million people living with an unruptured brain aneurysm.
While the exact cause of a brain aneurysm, also known as a cerebral or intracranial aneurysm, is unknown, it’s believed to occur when a blood vessel in the brain has bulging or ballooning. This causes the blood vessel wall to become weak and more likely to rupture.
If an aneurysm ruptures, it results in a hemorrhagic stroke, or blood leaking in the brain, and can quickly become very serious. “Most brain aneurysms don’t rupture,” explains Dr. Sudeepta Dandapat, an interventional neurologist at Aurora Health Care. “However, if it does rupture, it can become life-threatening and require emergency medical attention. This is why it’s very important to be aware of its symptoms and what to do if you or someone else is experiencing symptoms.”
Dr. Dandapat says symptoms can vary depending on the size of the aneurysm, its location in the brain and if it’s pressing against nerves or tissues in the brain. He explains that unruptured brain aneurysms often don’t cause symptoms, which commonly makes a brain aneurysm unnoticeable.
Early signs of an unruptured brain aneurysm include:
- Headaches
- Pain around and above the eye
- Vision changes, especially doubled or blurred vision
- Drooping eyelid
- Dilated pupil
- Numbness on one side of the face
- Difficulty speaking
- Loss of balance
Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm include:
- Sudden severe headache, often likened to the worst headache you’ve ever experienced
- Nausea
- Neck pain or stiff neck
- Light sensitivity
- Seizures
- Weakness in limbs or on one side of body
If you or someone else experiences any of these symptoms, especially the sudden onset of an excruciating headache, seek medical attention immediately.
Want to learn more about your risk for stroke? Take a free online quiz.
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About the Author
Hannah Koerner is a Public Affairs Specialist with Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. In her free time, she enjoys biking, snowshoeing, and cheering on Wisconsin sports teams.
I had a brain aneurysm that Dr.Darkaboni was able to coil. But now I have a balloon growing around the coil. I also have CKD and they are afraid to do the procedure because the dye would be dangerous for my kidneys. It’s scary living with an aneurysm is growing.
Dear Kristie Munro
The recurrence of an aneurysm is indeed a serious matter. Please contact Advocate Health main strokes centers to receive the latest updates on how to manage your aneurysm
Happy Holidays!!!
I had an aneurysm coiled by Dr Farhat in 2015. I didn’t have the sudden onset headache, but rather a massive headrush/pressure feeling in my head. It wasn’t until after I got to the hospital that I developed the worst headache of my life. Any “sudden onset” symptom that is out of the ordinary should be evaluated.
Thanks for educating us on brain aneurysm, the symptoms of which are similar to stroke. Am wondering if the timing of this is related to the tragic story of a 28-year-old Tucson news anchor who died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. Was choked up watching her colleague in tears talk about her.