A brain aneurysm is a potentially fatal condition that's characterised by a bulge in one of the blood vessels in your brain. Brain aneurysms don't always rupture, but if they do they can cause a haemorrhagic stroke, which is life-threatening. So, it's important to be aware of the symptoms of this condition so that you can seek prompt treatment before it ruptures. It's not fully understood why some people develop a brain aneurysm, but there are some factors that doctors think may increase your risk. These include high blood pressure, smoking, drug and alcohol use and certain underlying medical conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Brain Aneurysm Symptoms
Symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm include pain behind one eye, changes to your vision, pupil dilation and numbness down one side of the face. When an aneurysm ruptures it's common to experience a sudden and severe headache alongside blurred vision, nausea and a stiff neck. You may also become confused, have a seizure or lose consciousness. You should contact your doctor straight away if you develop symptoms associated with an unruptured brain aneurysm, and you should call an ambulance if you have symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm.
Brain Aneurysm Treatment
If your doctor suspects you have a brain aneurysm they will refer you to a neurologist for specialist care. Diagnostic imaging is used to confirm the presence of a brain aneurysm and surgery is the treatment of choice for this condition. Surgery involves having a clip secured to the aneurysm to seal it off and prevent rupturing, but your doctor may recommend you delay having surgery if there are other health factors that would increase the risks associated with the surgery, such as high blood pressure, smoking and being obese. In this situation, your GP can provide support to get these risk factors under control and will work with your specialist to help you reach a point where surgery can go ahead as safely as possible. Your GP may prescribe medication or refer you to a tertiary support service, such as a smoking cessation clinic, and will monitor your health until you are seen by our neurologist again.
It can be easy to put the symptoms of a brain aneurysm down to the stresses of everyday life, but ignoring these symptoms could be putting your life at risk. If you develop any of the symptoms mentioned above, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.
If you are planning to visit a primary care clinic for the first time, you may have some questions about what to expect. We hope to answer any questions you may have on this blog. Our team of non-medical writers have been working on a number of articles which will explore various aspects of the primary care medical system. Read on to find out more about the type of treatments you can receive in this type of clinic, the questions you may want to ask the medic who treats you, and much more. Please check back soon to read our latest updates.