Guide To Aneurysm Symptoms

An aneurysm occurs when an artery in the body becomes weak, creating an abnormal bulge and increase in artery size. Aneurysms can occur in many major arteries of the body, including in the brain and abdomen. Aneurysms can be detected with ultrasound and other imaging studies, and in fact, most are discovered incidentally during scans for other conditions. If an aneurysm is found, it is typically monitored with regular imaging studies to check for an increase in size. Depending on the aneurysm's location and size, doctors may recommend surgery to repair it. Aneurysms can leak or rupture, and this is considered a medical emergency that may be fatal. However, studies suggest up to eighty percent of all aneurysms will not rupture during a patient's lifetime.

The symptoms of a brain aneurysm can appear rapidly and be quite frightening. Since neurological symptoms may indicate many conditions, it is vital for patients experiencing any of the possible signs of a brain aneurysm outlined below seek immediate medical evaluation.

Sudden And Severe Headache

A sudden and severe headache is one of the classic symptoms associated with a brain aneurysm. It may indicate an aneurysm is leaking or has ruptured, and patients with this symptom should go to the emergency room or call an ambulance. Generally, aneurysm patients have described their sudden and severe headache as being the worst headache of their lives and more painful than any other type of headache they may have had. Patients who have brain aneurysms that have not ruptured may also experience headaches, and these range from mild to severe. In particular, patients may feel mild to severe pain above or behind their eyes. Sometimes, a sudden and severe headache may be accompanied by a drooping eyelid and stiffness in the neck.

Light Sensitivity

Sensitivity to light is another symptom that suggests a ruptured aneurysm. Patients experiencing this symptom may be so sensitive to light that they cannot tolerate doctors shining a light in their eyes, and they may feel the need to wear sunglasses or an eye mask indoors. For these patients, going outdoors into the sunlight will be painful. Sometimes, light sensitivity may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and confusion or another change in mental state. Patients may also have trouble speaking. Patients or their family members should mention sensitivity to light to paramedics or hospital staff. In general, light sensitivity will get worse with a brain aneurysm, and there is no treatment for this particular symptom.