A brain aneurysm is a bulging area in the wall of an artery in the brain.
It can put pressure on nearby structures, causing problems such as double vision orchanges in your pupil size.
Genetics play a role in the development of brain aneurysms, but some occur without any identifiable cause.
Verywell / Laura Porter
If you have a brain aneurysm, the biggest concern is that it could bleed.
This article discusses brain aneurysms and their symptoms.
It also goes over how they are diagnosed and treated, and what the long-term prognosis is.
Brain aneurysms can grow slowly or rapidly, or may remain unchanged throughout your life.
Brain aneurysms generally affect adults over the age of 30.
While they are rarely found in children or adolescents, they can occur at any age.
Unruptured Brain Aneurysms
Most of the time, unruptured brain aneurysms do not cause any symptoms.
The effects are usually subtle and may occur intermittently, but they can be constant or progressively worsen.
Ruptured Brain Aneurysms
Bleeding brain aneurysms can cause subarachnoid hemorrhages orhemorrhagic strokes.
A hemorrhagic stroke is bleeding in the brain tissue itself.
Death
Most brain aneurysms do not cause death, because most of them do not rupture.
But when a large brain aneurysm does rupture, there is a high chance of death.
Aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel throughout the body, including the brain.
An aneurysm is a bulging area in the wall of an artery.
Usually, the outpouching of a brain aneurysm forms in a delicate section of an arterial wall.
Brain aneurysms commonly form in thecircle of Willis, a group of blood vessels in the brain.
Brain aneurysms are generally described as idiopathic, which means that they occur without a known cause.
Head trauma may also increase the risk of developing a brain aneurysm.
An aneurysm may cause the arterial wall to rip, tear, or rupture.
Risk Factors for Rupture of a Brain Aneurysm
All brain aneurysms are at risk of bleeding.
Sometimes, brain CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to visualize the aneurysm.
There are several types of cerebralangiograms, including CT angiography (CTA) and MR angiography (MRA).
The size and location of your brain aneurysm determine which of these is the best imaging technique for you.
The pictures, rather than the reports, are typically compared.
Some unruptured aneurysms need to be surgically repaired, while others are not treated.
For example, small aneurysms, often described as berry aneurysms, are often not treated.
If you experience a brain aneurysm rupture, treatment involves medical management, possible surgical intervention, and rehabilitation.
Surgery
Brain aneurysm surgery is a particularly delicate surgical procedure, and it requires careful planning.
Eventually, the aneurysm withers away, and the blood vessel heals, resuming normal blood flow.
Surgery may require an open craniotomy (temporary removal of the skull).
Lifestyle Changes
There are some lifestyle factors that can increase the likelihood of brain aneurysm rupture.
Brain Aneurysm Prognosis
The chance that a non-growing brain aneurysm will rupture depends on its size.
About 50% brain aneurysm ruptures will be fatal.
Around 66% of those who survive a brain aneurysm will have some kind of permanent neurological problem.
Other complications may occur, such as heart and blood pressure irregularities and difficulty breathing.
Edema (swelling) can occur in the brain as well, causing further brain damage.
Summary
A brain aneurysm is a bulge in an artery in the brain.
In some cases, monitoring the aneurysm may be a better option.
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