An aneurysm is an enlarged part of a blood vessel. They’re important to discover, because they may become larger over time. That growth increases the chance that the blood vessel will burst. Show
To figure out if what you’re feeling is an aneurysm, your doctor will ask you questions, including whether another member of your family has had one. Then, they’ll give you a complete exam, during which they’ll:
If your doctor thinks you have an aneurysm in your aorta, the main artery in your body, you may get an ultrasound test so they can see if there is one. This is painless and can pinpoint and measure an aneurysm. If they think one is in your chest, you might get a CT scan to look at it more closely. If your doctor is concerned that you have one in your brain, you may get a CT scan or an invasive test called an angiogram. During this, dye is injected into an artery in an arm or leg and travels to your brain. A picture of your brain is then taken. The dye will make it easier for your doctor to see any problems. An MRI can also be used to check your aorta or blood vessels in your brain. The only way to get rid of an aneurysm is to have it repaired with surgery or an endovascular procedure. Sometimes surgery isn’t possible, or it may pose more danger than the aneurysm. Careful monitoring and medication may be best in that case. Conventional Medicine Your doctor will figure out the size, type, and location of the aneurysm. What they find will help determine your best treatment. For inoperable aneurysms, you may be prescribed drugs to lower your blood pressure or ease the force of your heart's beating. Your chance of it bursting will go down. Even for an operable aneurysm, your doctor may first try medication and a wait-and-see approach, with tests every now and then to track its growth. You may need surgery if your doctor finds that the aneurysm has become big enough to be dangerous. A surgeon can treat it by inserting a clip that cuts off blood flow to the affected area. In some cases, the aneurysm can be removed. That section of artery can be replaced with a synthetic graft. The most important thing you can do to prevent aneurysms is to control your blood pressure. If you have a family history of stroke or heart disease, make changes in your diet and lifestyle to improve your health. Brain Aneurysm Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors Medically Reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD on September 18, 2022
A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in the wall of a blood vessel inside the brain that can sometimes burst and cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Think of a weak spot in a balloon and how it feels stretched out and thin. A brain aneurysm is like that. That area of the blood vessel gets worn out from constant flow of blood and bulges out, almost like a bubble. It can grow to the size of a small berry. There are different types: Saccular aneurysms are the most common type of brain aneurysm. They bulge out in a dome shape. They’re connected to the artery by a narrow “neck.” Fusiform aneurysms aren’t as common as saccular aneurysms. They don’t pouch out in a dome shape. Instead, they make a widened spot in the blood vessel. Although brain aneurysms sound alarming, most don’t cause symptoms or health problems. You can enjoy a long life without ever realizing that you have one. The type of symptoms you have from a brain aneurysm depend on whether it ruptures or not. Ruptured brain aneurysm symptoms You need emergency care if you suddenly get an intensely painful headache, lose consciousness, or have any of these other symptoms of an aneurysm rupture: Although brain aneurysms usually don’t show symptoms, they can press on the brain and nerves as they get bigger. Unruptured brain aneurysm symptoms See a doctor at once if you’re having a new headache or pain above or behind your eye. Call 911. Other symptoms of an unruptured aneurysm are:
A sudden and intense headache can also be a sign you have a leaking aneurysm (sentinel bleed). This can be a warning sign you’ll soon have a full rupture. Brain aneurysms usually develop as people age, becoming more common after 40. It’s also possible to have a blood vessel defect at birth. Women tend to have higher rates of aneurysms than men. Aneurysms tend to form at the fork of blood vessels, places where they branch off, because those sections tend to be weaker. They are most commonly found at the base of the brain. If your brain aneurysm ruptures or leaks and causes a hemorrhagic stroke, you’ll need medical treatment right away. This is rare but can be life-threatening. Your doctor usually won’t know why your brain aneurysm ruptured. But experts know a few reasons that could heighten your risk of bleeding: High blood pressure. This is the most common factor that leads to a ruptured brain aneurysm. Heavy lifting or straining. Your brain aneurysm may rupture because of pressure from lifting or straining. Strong emotions. If you’re very upset or angry, this can raise your blood pressure and lead to a ruptured aneurysm. Medications. Blood thinners including warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and other medicines or prescription drugs, such as diet pills like ephedrine and amphetamines, can cause an aneurysm to bleed. Illegal drugs. Harmful drugs, like cocaine, can cause your aneurysm to rupture. Smoking and high blood pressure are the things that put you at the most risk of having a brain aneurysm. But several other things in your medical history and lifestyle also increase your odds. Medical history Things in your medical history that can play a role include:
Lifestyle
Rarely, kids under 18 can have a brain aneurysm. Boys are eight times more likely to get them than girls. Of the few cases in children, about 20% are “giant” aneurysms (larger than 2.5 centimeters). Aneurysms in kids can come on for no reason. But they’re also sometimes related to: Several types of scans and tests can be used to figure out whether you have a brain aneurysm. They include: CT scan: This exam creates images of your brain. You will lie on a table that slides into a CT scanner. A technician will inject contrast dye into one of your veins to make it easier to see the blood flow and spot aneurysms in your brain. MRI: This exam is similar in that you lie on a table that slides into a scanner. The MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of your brain and blood vessels. MRIs and CT scans can detect aneurysms larger than 3 to 5 millimeters. The following tests are more invasive than CT or MRI scans. But they could give you and your doctors a more complete picture of what’s going on: Angiogram: This test, considered the most reliable way to detect aneurysms, shows the weak spots in your blood vessels. During the test, you lie on an X-ray table, and you will be given something to numb any pain. Your doctor will insert a small flexible tube through a blood vessel in the leg. They’ll guide that tube, called a catheter, into the blood vessels in your neck that reach the brain. Then they’ll inject a contrast dye into you, and X-rays will be taken that show all the blood vessels in the brain. This gives your doctor a map of your blood vessels, pinpointing the aneurysm. Cerebrospinal fluid test: Your doctor may order this test if they think an aneurysm may have ruptured. You’ll be given something to block any pain. A technician will put a needle into you to draw spinal fluid. That fluid is tested to see whether it contains blood, which could mean an aneurysm has ruptured. Ruptured brain aneurysm treatment You need treatment as soon as possible if you have a ruptured brain aneurysm, because it’s likely that it will bleed again. Treatment involves stopping the blood flow into the aneurysm. The procedures carry risks. Your doctor will figure out which treatment works best based on your health, and the size, type, and location of the aneurysm. Surgical clipping: A section of your skull is removed to locate the aneurysm. A metal clip is placed on the opening of the aneurysm to cut off the blood flow. Your skull is then sealed shut. Endovascular coiling: This doesn’t require surgery that opens the skull. Your doctor will insert a catheter into your groin to reach the affected blood vessel where the aneurysm is located. The doctor will send tiny platinum coils through the tube and place them inside the aneurysm. The coils conform to the shape of the aneurysm, stopping the blood flow there. This may be safer than surgical clipping, but it has a higher chance of the aneurysm bleeding again. Flow diverter surgery: This option is for larger brain aneurysms in which neither clipping nor coiling would work. In this procedure, your doctor inserts a stent, usually made of metal mesh, inside the artery. It becomes a wall inside the vessel to divert blood away from the aneurysm. To help manage symptoms and prevent complications of an aneurysm, your doctor may suggest:
Unruptured brain aneurysm treatment Small aneurysms that haven’t ruptured and aren’t causing symptoms may not need treatment. But this depends on your health and the aneurysm. You can talk this all over with your doctors. A ruptured brain aneurysm can be life-threatening and lead to: Once your doctor finds an aneurysm, it’s very unlikely that it’ll heal on its own. The good news is you can take steps to stop it from growing or leaking. There are also things you can do lower the risk of a new aneurysm: You may never know that you have an unruptured brain aneurysm. If it doesn’t rupture, you may live your entire life without any issues. But there’s always a risk that it’ll bleed. If this happens, you’ll need immediate medical help. The longer you wait, the worse your outcome could be. Your chances of death or disability go up as more time passes after your aneurysm ruptures. Around 75% of people with a ruptured brain aneurysm will live longer than 24 hours. But a fourth of these people could have fatal complications within the next 6 months. If your doctor doesn’t treat your aneurysm quickly enough you might bleed again from the same area. So, it’s important to get help as soon as possible if you think you have symptoms of a brain aneurysm. |
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