Brain aneurysms are common. In fact, around 2 million Americans have one. Fortunately, with the right advice and treatment, most brain aneurysms are spotted and can be stopped before they ever cause any problems. However, the dangers of aneurysm formation do not stop there.
If you or a loved one has had an aneurysm diagnosis, or if you’re considering having surgery to prevent an aneurysm from forming in the future, you need to understand the possible risks and have up-to-date information about what to do if you discover one. This article will answer many of your questions about brain aneurysm and let you know how to avoid them in the first place. It will also explain everything you need to know about this potentially life-threatening medical condition and its potential consequences.
What is a brain aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a common condition in which a portion of the wall of the ventricle within the brain bulges and then spouts blood. It may feel like a “big” headache. Many people who have an aneurysm have no idea they have one until they have a heart attack or stroke.
There are 2 types of aneurysms that can occur in the brain:
intracerebral and subdural. An intracerebral aneurysm is more likely to develop in the head, while a subdural aneurysm occurs in the brain’s outer portion, called the dura. Despite what you might have heard, aneurysms are not rare. In fact, aneurysm formation is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the most common cerebrovascular accident. The condition affects about 1 in 6 people at some point in their lives.
How to check if you or your loved one has one.
You can’t tell if you or a loved one has an aneurysm just by looking. That’s because each aneurysm is different. Fortunately, a simple blood test can tell you if an aneurysm is present. However, an aneurysm that is detected anamnesis (at the time of diagnosis) is more likely to become Dilated and easier to get rid of. Therefore, early detection is essential.
If you or a loved one has an aneurysm, you should get a complete health history and take a complete blood, biochemistry and urinalysis (BUN) sample. This will let the doctor know where the aneurysm is located and what stage of development it is in. Most brain aneurysms develop within the cavernous sinus, the largest blood vessel in the brain. However, an occasional intracerebral aneurysm develops elsewhere in the brain. This is referred to as an interneuroGreek or intracerebral aneurysm.
An interneuroGreek aneurysm is often detected on a routine neurological examination (including an MRI) because it is located in the same part of the brain where a lesion is detected. The difference between an interneuroGreek and an intracerebral aneurysm is that the former occurs within the brain and the latter occurs outside it.
The risk of getting a brain aneurysm diagnosis.
While it is not possible to know ahead of time if you will have a brain aneurysm, it is possible to have some degree of risk. If you have a family history of an aneurysm or a personal or historical trauma that may have made you more likely to develop an aneurysm, you should be tested for an aneurysm. An aneurysm can develop in either the head or the heart. In the head, it is called an intracerebral aneurysm and is often detected on a scan performed on patients after a heart attack or stroke.
Some aneurysms develop in the heart and are called subarachnoid hemorrhages. These types of aneurysms are extremely rare. However, having a subarachnoid hemorrhage is much riskier than having an aneurysm in the brain. For one thing, there is a much greater chance of a subarachnoid hemorrhage causing a stroke than an aneurysm does. Furthermore, having a subarachnoid hemorrhage is much more likely to result in another aneurysm forming and expanding than having an aneurysm form and then burst in the brain. Depending on the type of aneurysm and the patient’s circumstances, surgery may be the only viable treatment. Before undergoing surgery, some people with an aneurysm may have pre-existing medical conditions that make them more likely to develop complications from the surgery. If you are considering having surgery to treat a brain aneurysm, make sure you and your doctor discuss all the risks and benefits of surgery.
Side effects and risks of surgery to treat a brain aneurysm.
Depending on the type of aneurysm, surgery may have some side effects, including:
Headaches
Dizziness
Weakness in the arms and legs
Blurred vision
Chills Feeling hot and/or flushed
Worse appetite
Anxiety
Depression
Nausea Stomach cramps
Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Increased body temperature
Racing heart rate
Increased urination
Increased perspiration
Increased redness around the eyes
Dryness of the skin
Increased fluid intake
Increased defecation
Increased urination
Excessive sleepiness
If you discover you have a brain aneurysm, the first thing you should do is get yourself and your loved ones checked out by a doctor. Then, take the results of that appointment and discuss your options with your doctor. The best option is to get your aneurysm checked out by a doctor. Then, discuss your options with your doctor.
(1). https://www.webmd.com/brain/brain-aneurysm
(2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16800-brain-aneurysm
(4). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20361483