Brain Aneurysm

Brain Aneurysm is a medical condition that is associated with the weakening of a blood vessel within your brain. An outward abnormal bulge of one of the arteries in the brain can be noticed in patients whose blood vessel starts to weaken with time. A brain aneurysm is also referred to as cerebral or intracranial aneurysm. Brain aneurysm usually occurs at the "Circle of Willis" which is at the junction of large arteries at the base of your brain. As aneurysm develops and as the balloon becomes larger, potential burst risk develops for the same and that results into further complications as bleeding occurs within the brain.

The treatment of aneurysm involves stopping of the bleeding that occurs within the brain and avoid any further damage to the brain. Treatment also includes preventive measures to devoid any risks of recurrence. The chances of achieving nearly perfect treatment at this stage is minimal . Statistics indicate that around 40% of people who suffer bleeding die within the first month and around 1/3rd who survive might continue to have nervous system problems. Out of those who have survived this condition have twice the chances than others to redevelop another brain aneurysm. Most of those who pass through this condition are likely to suffer from memory related problems such as thinking, perception or even problems performing simple daily chores.

Symptoms of Brain Aneurysm

Symptoms of brain aneurysm can be further classified into symptoms for cerebral aneurysm and for unruptured cerebral aneurysm :

Symptoms of Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm

• Severe headaches
• Stiff neck or neck pain
• Pain that occurs above and behind the eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of sensation
  

Symptoms of Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm

• Fatigue
• Peripheral vision shortages or deficits
• Loss of balance and co-ordination
• Inability to percept things, think or even perform daily chores
• Sudden behavioral changes
• Inability to talk properly
  

During diagnosis for ruptured cerebral aneurysm, a Computerized Tomography scan or CAT/CT scan is performed to find signs for subarachnoid hemorrhage (hemorrhage that occurs at the subarachnoid space which is the space that closely surrounds the brain). If preliminary CT scans are negative for ruptured cerebral aneurysm but the same is still suspected a lumber puncture procedure is performed which helps detect blood in spinal fluid or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid or spinal fluid is the clear liquid that is produced in brain ventricles and which fills and protects cavities in the brain and the spinal cord.

Brain Aneurysm Statistics

• Recent statistics indicate around 8 to 10 million people in America have brain aneurysm and around 0.2 to 3% of those are likely to face bleeding.
  
  
• Around 20 to 30% people who have brain aneurysm have twice the risk as that of normal people in re-developing this condition.
  
  
• Brain Aneurysm generally occur in people aging between 35 to 60 years out of which women are more likely to suffer from this condition.