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Brain Aneurysm

Also called: Berry aneurysm, Cerebral aneurysm, Intracranial aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of an artery in the brain. They are sometimes called berry aneurysms because they are often the size of a small berry. Most brain aneurysms produce no symptoms until they become large, begin to leak blood, or burst.

If a brain aneurysm presses on nerves in your brain, it can cause signs and symptoms. These can include

  • A droopy eyelid
  • Double vision or other changes in vision
  • Pain above or behind the eye
  • A dilated pupil
  • Numbness or weakness on one side of the face or body

Treatment depends on the size and location of the aneurysm, whether it is infected, and whether it has burst. If a brain aneurysm bursts, symptoms can include a sudden, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, loss of consciousness, and signs of a stroke. Any of these symptoms requires immediate medical attention.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Symptoms of Brain Aneurysm

The following features are indicative of Brain Aneurysm:
  • localized headache
  • dilated pupils
  • blurred or double vision
  • pain above and behind eye
  • weakness and numbness
  • difficulty speaking
It is possible that Brain Aneurysm shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Brain Aneurysm

The following are the most common causes of Brain Aneurysm:
  • smoking
  • hypertension
  • traumatic brain injury
  • sepsis

Risk Factors for Brain Aneurysm

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Brain Aneurysm:
  • atherosclerotic vascular diseases
  • family history
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • polycystic kidney disease

Prevention of Brain Aneurysm

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Brain Aneurysm. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • limit alcohol consumption
  • controlling diet containing high amount of sodium or saturated fat
  • avoid tobacco use
  • do not use oral contraceptives
  • maintain normal body weight
  • change physically inactive lifestyle

Occurrence of Brain Aneurysm

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Brain Aneurysm cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Brain Aneurysm most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Aged between 35-50 years

Common Gender

Brain Aneurysm can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Brain Aneurysm

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Brain Aneurysm:
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan: To look for aneurysms in the brain that haven't ruptured
  • Computed Tomography (CT) scan: To look for ruptured aneurysm and bleeding in the brain

Doctor for Diagnosis of Brain Aneurysm

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Brain Aneurysm:
  • Neurosurgeon

Complications of Brain Aneurysm if untreated

Yes, Brain Aneurysm causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Brain Aneurysm is left untreated:
  • ruptures in the brain
  • stroke
  • permanent nerve damage
  • can be fatal

Procedures for Treatment of Brain Aneurysm

The following procedures are used to treat Brain Aneurysm:
  • Surgical clipping: Close off an aneurysm
  • Ventricular or lumbar draining catheters and shunt surgery: Lessens the pressure on the brain from excess cerebrospinal fluid

Self-care for Brain Aneurysm

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Brain Aneurysm:
  • Quit smoking
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Limit caffeine intake: Lessen the consumption of caffeine
  • Avoid lifting heavy weights

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Brain Aneurysm

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Brain Aneurysm:
  • Physical therapy: Improves motor skills and coordination and treats orthopedic abnormalities
  • Speech therapy: Improves speaking and eating abilities
  • Occupational therapy: Improves the functional abilities

Time for Treatment of Brain Aneurysm

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Brain Aneurysm to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • In 1 - 4 weeks

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Brain Aneurysm.

Related Topics

Aneurysms
Hemorrhagic Stroke

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