Thursday

Brain Aneurysms: What Are They & What Are The Warning Signs

At the beginning of the week I wrote about my cousin-in-law's (cousin's) sudden and shocking fall to a Brain Aneurysm. She passed away this past Tuesday surrounded by family. I made a pledge at the end of Monday's post to bring awareness to this often fatal event that most people know very little about.

What Is A Brain Aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm, also referred to as a cerebral aneurysm or intracranial aneurysm (IA), is a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery very much like a thin balloon or weak spot on an inner tube. Over time, the blood flow within the artery pounds against the thinned portion of the wall and aneurysms form silently from wear and tear on the arteries. As the artery wall becomes gradually thinner from the dilation, the blood flow causes the weakened wall to swell outward. This pressure may cause the aneurysm to rupture and allow blood to escape into the space around the brain. A ruptured brain aneurysm commonly requires advanced surgical treatment. (Source)

Warning Signs/Symptoms

Unruptured brain aneurysms are typically completely asymptomatic. These aneurysms are typically small in size, usually less than one half inch in diameter. However, large unruptured aneurysms can occasionally press on the brain or the nerves stemming out of the brain and may result in various neurological symptoms. Any individual experiencing some or all of the following symptoms, regardless of age, should undergo immediate and careful evaluation by a physician.

Localized Headache
Dilated pupils
Blurred or double vision
Pain above and behind eye
Weakness and numbness
Difficulty speaking

Ruptured brain aneurysms usually result in a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which is defined as bleeding into the subarachnoid space. When blood escapes into the space around the brain, it can cause sudden symptoms.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately If You Are Experiencing Some Or All Of These Symptoms:

Sudden severe headache, the worst headache of your life
Loss of consciousness
Nausea/Vomiting
Stiff Neck
Sudden blurred or double vision
Sudden pain above/behind the eye or difficulty seeing
Sudden change in mental status/awareness
Sudden trouble walking or dizziness
Sudden weakness and numbness
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Seizure
Drooping eyelid (Source)

Don't think it can happen to you? Check out these Brain Aneursym Statistics and Facts. Believe it or not, kids can have them too.

What's next if any of the above sounds familiar? Go to your doctor immediately. If you don't have one, then get one. If you currently don't have insurance and are sitting around waiting for the right time or a job to come through, you need to throw your pride in the trash right now and head to your local board of health. Additionally, I was informed by a firefighter friend that you can stop by your local firehouse for a free blood pressure check. They are versed in the symptoms for IA and are equipped to advise you as to whether you should or should not seek advanced medical attention.

To be continued...

E.Payne is the author of DAD: As Easy As A, B, C! and I Didn't Invented Sex. For the past 3 years he has posted 600+ articles about fatherhood, marriage and everything in between here at Makes Me Wanna Holler.com. To learn more, click here.