What are Aneurysms and what can we do about them?

What are Aneurysms and what can we do about them?

Brain aneurysms occur when there is a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel. An aneurysm may be present from birth (congenital) or develop later in the course of life, as after injury to a blood vessel.

Many different types of aneurysms. The most common type is called an aneurysm sacciforme and can vary in size from a few millimeters to over a centimeter. Giant berry aneurysms can reach well over 2 cm and are more common in adults. Multiple berry aneurysms are inherited from parents to children more often than other types of aneurysms.

A person may have an aneurysm without having any symptoms. This type of aneurysm can be found when an MRI or CT scan of the brain is done for another reason.

A cerebral aneurysm may begin to "leak" a small amount of blood, which can cause severe headache pain that a patient can be described as "the worst headache of your life". This means that the headache could be a warning sign of a break days or weeks after the headache occurs first.

Symptoms may also occur if the aneurysm pushes on nearby structures in the brain or opens (breaks) and causes intracerebral bleeding.

Symptoms depend on the location of the aneurysm, if broken or not and on what part of the brain is pressure, but may include:

• Double vision
• Vision loss
• Headaches
• Eye pain
• Neck pain
• Stiff neck

The outcome depends on many factors. Patients who are in deep comas after an aneurysm rupture generally do not do as well as those with less serious symptoms.

Ruptured cerebral aneurysms are often deadly. Of those who survive, about 1 in 4 will have some permanent disability.

Call Hispano Americano Hospital in Mexicali, Mexico at toll free number 888-698-2244 or call the local emergency number (such as 911 in the US) if you have sudden pain or severe headaches, especially if you also have nausea, vomiting, seizures or other neurological symptoms.