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Symptom of an Aneurysm in the Brain

A brain aneurysm, which is harmful in and of itself, is rendered even more dangerous by the fact that it sometimes has no symptoms. Even when an aneurysm does give warning signs, the symptoms can be mild or common enough to be misleading. A hemorrhaging aneurysm will have sudden, extreme symptoms, but by that time, the damage caused by the bleeding can be irreparable. It is important to be aware of the signs of an aneurysm to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

  1. Causes of Aneurysm in the Brain

    • An aneurysm in the brain is called cerebral or intracranial aneurysm. An aneurysm forms when blood collects in a weakened area of a blood vessel or artery, causing it to bulge. Symptoms occur when the expanding aneurysm begins to put pressure on surrounding brain tissue. The initial weaknesses in the artery or vessel wall are often genetic or inborn, and can also be symptomatic of various vascular or kidney diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertensive vascular disease, existing tumors and high blood pressure. Trauma to the head may weaken blood vessels enough to allow an aneurysm to form, and drugs (particularly cocaine) have been proven capable of irritating blood vessels, thereby causing an aneurysm.

    Types of Aneurysms in the Brain

    • There are three types of cerebral aneurysms, the most common of which typically forms in the arteries at the brain's base. This is the saccular aneurysm. An aneurysm occurring along one side of a blood vessel is known as a lateral aneurysm, and bulging along all walls of the blood vessel results in a fusiform aneurysm. An aneurysm can range in size from approximately 11 to 25 mm in diameter. If the aneurysm leaks or ruptures, the outflow of blood into the brain can be catastrophic. Unfortunately, an aneurysm can sometimes go unnoticed until this rupture occurs, at which point the damage may be irreversible. If the aneurysm is discovered while it is still whole, however, rupture and all accompanying damage may be prevented.

    Symptoms of an Unruptured Aneurysm

    • An aneurysm which hasn't ruptured may not have any noticeable symptoms. Particularly if it remains small and doesn't hemorrhage, an aneurysm can easily go completely unnoticed. Pressure may begin to build if the aneurysm grows significantly in size, however. Symptoms of a particularly large or sensitively-placed intracranial aneurysm before rupture can include speech and vision problems (particularly peripheral vision problems,) pain around the eye, dilated pupils, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, short-term memory loss, difficulty processing information, unusual behavioral changes, and numbness or paralysis in the face. Watch for the onset of a severe headache, which may indicate that the aneurysm is leaking and preparing to hemorrhage.

    Symptoms of a Ruptured Aneurysm

    • Once the aneurysm ruptures, the symptoms will be instantaneous and extreme. They can include stiffness in the neck, vomiting, nausea, blurred or double vision, complete loss of feeling in various parts of the body, seizures, weakness (typically along one side of the face or body,) and impairment in speech and motor skills. Depending on the size, placement and blood flow of the ruptured aneurysm, some of this damage may prove long-term or even irreparable.

    Considerations

    • Once an aneurysm has ruptured, the key is to stop the blood flow in order to minimize damage. The weeks following a hemorrhage require special monitoring, as blood flow from one ruptured aneurysm can cause more aneurysms to form in the area. Since an aneurysm often remains undiscovered until it has reached the critical point of hemorrhage, it is important to check for one routinely even if you don't experience symptoms.

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