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Intracranial Berry Aneurysm Symptoms

A brain aneurysm is a widening or ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain. It is called a Berry aneurysm because, in the brain, it looks like a berry hanging from the stem. Brain aneurysms are extremely serious because they can rupture or leak. They can be responsible for strokes or they can be fatal. Brain aneurysms, if caught early, can generally be successfully treated.

  1. Size

    • There are two kinds of Berry Aneurysms: the Berry Aneurysm, a few millimeters to under one centimeter, and a Giant Berry Aneurysm, which is over two centimeters.

    Symptoms

    • Aneurysms typically produce no symptoms unless they are pressing on a structure in the brain. If they are pressing on a structure, the symptoms will be consistent with the structure affected.

    Types

    • The symptoms which can occur if the aneurysm is pressing on a structure, are double vision, loss of vision, headaches, eye pain, neck pain, pain above and behind an eye, a dilated pupil, change in vision or double vision, numbness, weakness or paralysis of one side of the face or a drooping eyelid. If you suffer from one or more of these symptoms, an MRI or CT scan may be able to detect the aneurysm.

    Leaking

    • If your aneurysm begins to leak, you will experience a sudden, extremely severe headache. Typically, leaking is followed by a complete rupture which presents with a more severe headache and other symptoms.

    Rupture

    • A ruptured aneurysm produces a headache typically described as "the worst headache of your life, " according to Medline Plus. It is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms; sudden, extremely severe headache, stiff neck, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light, seizure, a drooping eyelid, loss of consciousness, confusion, lethargy, sleepiness, or stupor, headaches with nausea or vomiting, muscle weakness or difficulty moving any part of the body, numbness or decreased sensation in any part of the body, slow, sluggish, lethargic movement, speech impairment, sudden onset of irritability, impulsivity or poor temper control.

    Warning

    • A ruptured aneurysm is an emergency medical condition. Seek immediate medical help if you experience a sudden extremely severe headache or you are with someone who who complains of such a headache, loses consciousness or has a seizure. According to the Mayo Clinic, in about 50 percent of cases, ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal.

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