7 signs of a brain aneurysm that are often ignored
Brain aneurysm or brain aneurysm is a blood vessel disease that occurs in the brain. Although this condition is not quite common, it only occurs in 3.2% of people in the world, the most fatal risk is life threatening. For this reason, it is important for you to know the signs of a brain aneurysm so that it does not reach a fatal point. Here is an explanation of brain aneurysms and the signs that are often ignored.
What is a Brain Aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a widening or bulging of a brain blood vessel (artery) due to weakening or thinning of the brain wall. In the medical world, a brain aneurysm due to widening of the arteries is known as a fusiform aneurysm, namely blood vessels that widen on both sides of the artery wall.
Meanwhile, a brain aneurysm that occurs due to a bulging artery is usually known as a saccular aneurysm or berry aneurysm, because its shape resembles a berry. A saccular aneurysm has a “neck” that connects the aneurysm to the parent artery to form a dome-like sphere. This type of aneurysm only protrudes from one wall of the artery.
As the brain walls weaken or thin, widening or bulging of the arteries risks causing the aneurysm to rupture and blood in the artery to spill into the space between the skull and the brain. Ultimately, the individual experiences bleeding subarachnoid (subarachnoid hemorrhage), which is one type stroke seriously
Risk Factors for Brain Aneurysm
Brain aneurysms occur unnoticed. Therefore, many people do not realize that they have the germ or tendency to experience this situation, especially individuals who have inherited the condition of weak blood vessels. Apart from family history factors (aneurisma familial), The following are several factors that increase a person’s risk of brain aneurysm:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Age over 40 years
- Female
- Have other health disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, Marfan syndrome, and dysplasia fibromuskular
- There is an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
- There are congenital abnormalities in the artery walls
- Drug abuse, especially cocaine
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Infection
- Severe head trauma
7 Brain Aneurysm Symptoms
Here are some signs of a brain aneurysm that are often ignored:
1 Lightning headache
or thunderclap headache refers to a headache that occurs suddenly and briefly, like a Lightning. This severe headache will peak within 60 seconds. Although extremely rare, thunderclap headaches can be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition; usually associated with bleeding in and around the brain.
2 Loss of consciousness
Loss of consciousness when bleeding occurs is usually caused by ischemia, which is a condition where there is a lack of blood flow to certain body organs so that these organs lack oxygen. The duration of loss of consciousness can also be a measure of the severity of the individual’s condition.
3 Pain or stiffness in the neck
Neck pain or neck stiffness which occurs due to blood accumulating in the spinal fluid around the base of the brain. This condition can eventually irritate the area and make the neck feel painful or stiff.
4 Nausea, vomiting and drowsiness
The nausea and vomiting and drowsiness experienced by people with brain aneurysms are also side effects of the accumulated blood in the spinal fluid. This can be an indicator of increased pressure in the brain (hydrocephalus).
5 Sensitive to light
Sensitivity to light (photophobia) occurs because widening or bulging of the arteries causes pressure on the optic nerve in the brain. As a result, individuals with brain aneurysms will experience various visual disturbances, such as quadranopia nasal (complete loss of vision) or bitemporal hemianopsia (blurred vision, partial loss of vision, white spots appear in the field of vision).
6 Pain in the face
Pain in the face due to a brain aneurysm occurs due to compression or pressure on the cranial nerves. This pain is generally located in the center and only on one side of the face, with fluctuating intensity and frequency.
7 Disruption hormone
Disrupted hormones are also a sign of a brain aneurysm that is overlooked. This occurs due to the widening or protrusion of the aneurysm pressing on the pituitary gland which is at the front of the brain, precisely under the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland is responsible for controlling many other glands throughout the body, including the endocrine regulatory gland that controls sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, menstrual problems, and complications in other glands.
That’s a review of brain aneurysms and the signs that are often ignored. If you feel like you are experiencing one of the symptoms above or just want to ensure your brain health, you can visit Neurosurgery clinic. At Premier Bintaro Hospital, our Neurosurgery Specialists can handle neurosurgical treatment for diseases and disorders of the brain and peripheral nerves.