Medically reviewed by Regina Victoria Boyles, MD · Pediatrics
An aneurysm happens when an artery gets weakened to a point that it starts to “balloon” out or stretch. Aneurysms are especially risky when they occur near the brain, or a vital organ, since it can easily rupture and cause internal bleeding. Aneurysm treatment is crucial when it comes to preventing a ruptured aneurysm.
Aneurysms can occur anywhere in the body, but the more common locations are the following:
It is not easy to find out how many people worldwide have some form of this condition, as they largely go undetected, not until symptoms set in. But around 3.2% of the global population has a cerebral aneurysm.
The average age of people with a cerebral aneurysm is around 50, with about half being men and half are women.
But for people above 50, cerebral aneurysm is more prevalent among women. This might be related to lower levels of estrogen as women grow older, which also lowers the collagen content in the blood vessels.
Despite aneurysms being more common among the older generation, it is still possible for a young person to develop an aneurysm.
And knowing the symptoms and getting the right aneurysm treatment can help lower the risks associated with an aneurysm.
Aneurysms generally do not cause any outward symptoms until they rupture.
This is one of the reasons why it is difficult to detect it early on. This condition is usually discovered after it ruptures, and by that point, it could put the person’s life at risk.
The common symptoms of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm are:
For abdominal aneurysms, here are the common symptoms:
For ruptured aortic aneurysms, the most common symptom is a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest and sudden loss of consciousness.
An aneurysm that has not ruptured is almost impossible to detect without undergoing surveillance tests such as an MRI.
So it would be difficult to find out when you need to go to the doctor since unruptured aneurysms also do not have any symptoms.
More often than not, unruptured aneurysms are discovered incidentally during a CT scan or an MRI scan.
If a doctor does diagnose you with this condition, you can work closely with them to lower the risk of rupture.
However, it is worth noting that ruptured aneurysms do exhibit symptoms. So it is important to immediately seek medical attention if you feel that an aneurysm has ruptured. Aneurysm treatment needs to happen as soon as possible for the best chance of survival.
The causes of an aneurysm can vary from person to person. In some cases, an aneurysm could be hereditary, while for others, it could be the result trauma or injury.
Experts and scientists are still trying to find out what exactly causes an aneurysm, but certain risk factors have been identified over the years—all of which can increase a person’s risk of developing an aneurysm.
There are many risk factors for aneurysm. Here are some of those risk factors:
In terms of diagnosis, here are some of the ways that an aneurysm can be detected:
If doctors detect an aneurysm, then they will inform you as to what aneurysm treatment would be best to avoid future complications.
Aneurysm treatment varies depending on whether or not the aneurysm has ruptured.
If the aneurysm has not ruptured, it can be treated through the following ways:
In terms of aneurysm treatment, coiling is less invasive than clipping. Coiling also has a lower chance of complications.
However, coiling might need to be done more than once in order to ensure that the aneurysm is completely filled and will not rupture.
If an aneurysm has already ruptured, then the aneurysm treatment will be different.
A drug called nimodipine will be given by doctors in order to make sure that there is enough blood going to the brain. Afterwards, your doctor may perform surgery to either clip or place coils in order to repair the ruptured aneurysm.
The method would depend on whichever the surgeon feels would be best for the patient.
As with other potentially life-threatening conditions, early detection and intervention is key.
Learn more about the Brain and Nervous System, here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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