Aneurysms are weak areas of the blood vessels; they can occur in a number of places. There are a number of risk factors both in and out of our control that affect our likelihood of developing them, and aneurysms can be detected using various methods. They’re treated with a method known as embolization.
An aneurysm in the brain could rupture or leak, leading to a hemorrhagic stroke–or bleeding into the brain. This condition becomes life-threatening fast, and those suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm require medical attention as soon as possible. What are some signs of a brain aneurysm you can look out for?
The Mayo Clinic breaks down potential brain aneurysm signs by unruptured, “leaking”, and ruptured aneurysms:
Unruptured aneurysms could show no signs, especially if they’re small. However, a large, unruptured one could press on nerves and brain tissues, which would lead to:
“Leaking” aneurysms, aka sentinel bleeds, could cause:
It’s important to note that leaking aneurysms, which leak a small amount of blood, often result in a more severe, ruptured aneurysms.
Ruptured aneurysms generally share one key symptom: a sudden, severe headache. People often describe ruptured aneurysms as the “worst headache” they’ve ever experienced. Other common symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm may include:
The Mayo Clinic says that you should call 911 if you have a sudden, severe headache, lose consciousness, or have a seizure, because this could be the sign of a ruptured aneurysm.
An Ezra full-body MRI could find aneurysms in your brain, abdomen, and pelvis; you can learn more about our screening options here. If an aneurysm is found during your Ezra scan, a specialist will help you decide the appropriate course of action to take. An hour’s scan could save your life.
