Side-effects of a brain aneurysm?!
Question:
Side-effects of a brain aneurysm?
What exactly does a brain aneurysm cause? I have only just heard of it, someone I know has a mother who suffered from one. Could you tell me more. I don't understand exactly what it is and what it causes to happen. Thank you so much.
Answers:
What is a brain aneurysm?
A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In most cases, a brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed. In rare cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a stroke.
When a brain aneurysm ruptures, depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, brain damage or death may result.
What causes a brain aneurysm?
A person may inherit the tendency to form aneurysms, or aneurysms may develop because of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and aging.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm often come on suddenly. They may include:
Sudden, severe headache (sometimes described as a "thunderclap" headache that is very different from any normal headache).
Neck pain.
Nausea and vomiting.
Sensitivity to light.
Fainting or loss of consciousness.
Seizures.
How is a brain aneurysm diagnosed?
Because unruptured brain aneurysms often do not cause any symptoms, many are discovered in people who are being treated for a different condition.
How is it treated?
Because the risk of a small (less than 10 mm) aneurysm rupturing is low and surgery for a brain aneurysm is often risky, your health professional may want to continue to observe your condition rather than perform surgery. However, if your aneurysm is large or causing pain or other symptoms, or if you have had a previous ruptured aneurysm, your health professional may recommend surgery.
And, famous singer Laura Branigan (1957-2004) died of a brain aneurysm.