Detecting Brain Aneurysm
A brain aneurysm, or cerebral aneurysm, is a bulging part of a blood vessel in your brain. Sometimes, a brain aneurysm can rupture and start to bleed into the brain.
A brain aneurysm rupture is a medical emergency. Call 911 for immediate medical care if you or someone you are with is experiencing a brain aneurysm rupture. Our team of Dignity Health St. John's emergency care experts provide treatment for a ruptured brain aneurysm by working to prevent bleeding into your brain.
Not all brain aneurysms require emergency treatment. A cerebral aneurysm that is small and not causing problems may be successfully treated using medication or surgery. Find a Doctor today who can diagnose brain aneurysm symptoms and provide trusted emergency services.
Exploring Brain Aneurysm Symptoms at Dignity Health St. John's
It’s critical to seek immediate medical care if you think you have a ruptured brain aneurysm. Early treatment improves the chances of a positive outcome and helps you avoid brain damage or death. Nearly half of those who have a ruptured brain aneurysm do not survive it. About 20 to 35 percent of people with a ruptured brain aneurysm have moderate to severe brain damage.
Symptoms can develop if a brain aneurysm grows large or bursts, and these signs can include:
- Eye pain
- Headache that is severe
- Changes to your vision
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
Most brain aneurysms do not cause any symptoms, however. Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor may discover this condition during an evaluation for something else.
Brain Aneurysm Causes & Treatments for Your Well-Being
Some people have a higher risk of brain aneurysms than others. A few risk factors can increase your chances of a brain aneurysm. They include:
- Being a woman
- Aging
- Family history of brain aneurysm
- Using illicit drugs, tobacco, and drinking too much alcohol
Some diseases also can increase your risk, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and polycystic kidney disease.
A ruptured brain aneurysm can bleed into your brain, resulting in a hemorrhagic stroke. If it bleeds into the space around your brain, it is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Our Dignity Health St. John's doctors know that either a hemorrhagic stroke or a subarachnoid hemorrhage can lead to permanent brain damage, permanent nerve damage, or death. Our doctors provide personal care in an emergency setting. Treatment for a brain aneurysm that has ruptured is focused on stopping the bleeding into the brain and preventing further brain damage.