The NeuroMedical Center | Patient Education Library | Brain Aneurysm

Understanding Brain Aneursyms

A brain aneurysm is a bulge that forms in the wall of a weakened artery in the brain.  An unruptured aneursym usually causes no symptoms.  In rare cases, aneursyms can grow big, leak, or explode.  Bleeding in the brain, also known as hemorrhagic stroke, is very serious and requires immediate medical care. 

Causes & Risk Factors

Brain aneurysms usually develop as people age, becoming more common after 40.  Women tend to have higher rates of aneurysms than men.  A brain aneurysm is typically caused by a thinning of the arterial wall gradually or over time.  Aneurysms often develop at the base of arterial branches in the brain, because the arteries are weakest at these points.  It’s also possible to have a blood vessel defect at birth.

There are a number of risk factors that contribute to the formation of aneurysms:

  • Smoking
  • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
  • Strong Family History 
  • Drug Use
  • Excessive Alcohol Use
  • Infection
  • Severe Head Trauma

Causes & Risk Factors

Brain aneurysms usually develop as people age, becoming more common after 40.  Women tend to have higher rates of aneurysms than men.  A brain aneurysm is typically caused by a thinning of the arterial wall gradually or over time.  Aneurysms often develop at the base of arterial branches in the brain, because the arteries are weakest at these points.  It’s also possible to have a blood vessel defect at birth.

There are a number of risk factors that contribute to the formation of aneurysms:

  • Smoking
  • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
  • Strong Family History 
  • Drug Use
  • Excessive Alcohol Use
  • Infection
  • Severe Head Trauma

Symptoms

Aneurysms can cause a wide range of symptoms.  A small aneurysm that has not ruptured may not cause noticeable symptoms. See a doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms of an unruptured aneurysm:

  • Headache or Pain Behind Eye
  • Dilated Pupils
  • Impaired Vision
  • Speech Issues
  • Weakness or Numbness in One Side of the Face

When an aneurysm ruptures, it often causes a sudden, severe headache. Get emergency care if you suddenly experience an intensely painful headache. This pain is frequently described as the worst headache of the person’s life. A ruptured aneurysm can also cause:

  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • Loss of Balance
  • Stiff Neck
  • Dilated Pupils
  • Sensitivity to Light
  • Blurred or Double Vision
  • Drooping Eyelid
  • Seizure
  • Confusion 

Brain Aneurysm Statistics and Facts

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation provides these stats on brain aneurysm prevalence and research in the United States.

  • An estimated 6.5 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm, or 1 in 50 people.
  • The annual rate of rupture is approximately 8 – 10 per 100,000 people.
  • About 30,000 people in the United States suffer a brain aneurysm rupture each year. A brain aneurysm ruptures every 18 minutes.
  • Women are more likely than men to have a brain aneurysm (3:2 ratio).
  • Women, particularly those over the age of 55, have a higher risk of brain aneurysm rupture than men (about 1.5 times the risk).
  • African-Americans and Hispanics are about twice as likely to have a brain aneurysm rupture compared to whites.
  • There are almost 500,000 deaths worldwide each year caused by brain aneurysms, and half the victims are younger than 50.
  • According to a 2004 study, in the United States the combined lost wages of survivors of brain aneurysm rupture and their caretaker for one year were $150 million.
  • Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about 50% of cases. Of those who survive, about 66% suffer some permanent neurological deficit.
  • Approximately 15% of people with a ruptured aneurysm die before reaching the hospital. Most of the deaths are due to rapid and massive brain injury from the initial bleeding.
  • Brain aneurysms are most prevalent in people ages 35 to 60, but can occur in children as well. Most aneurysms develop after the age of 40.
  • Most aneurysms are small — about 1/8 inch to nearly one inch — and an estimated 50-80% of all aneurysms do not rupture.
  • Aneurysms larger than one inch are referred to as “giant” aneurysms. These can pose a particularly high risk and can also be difficult to treat.
  • Ruptured brain aneurysms account for 3-5% of all new strokes.
  • Among patients evaluated in an emergency department for headaches, approximately one in 100 has a ruptured aneurysm, according to one study. Another study puts the number at four in 100.
  • Accurate early diagnosis of a ruptured brain aneurysm is critical, as the initial hemorrhage may be fatal or result in devastating neurologic outcomes.
  • Despite the widespread availability of brain imaging that can detect a ruptured brain aneurysm, misdiagnosis or delays in diagnosis occur in up to one quarter of patients when initially seeking medical attention. In three out of four cases, misdiagnosis results from a failure to do a scan.
  • The treatment of ruptured brain aneurysms is far more costly than the treatment of unruptured aneurysms: The cost of a brain aneurysm treated by surgical clipping more than doubles after the aneurysm has ruptured. The cost of a brain aneurysm treated by endovascular coiling increases by about 70% after the aneurysm has ruptured.
  • 20% of people diagnosed with a brain aneurysm have more than one aneurysm.
  • The federal government spends only 83 cents per year on brain aneurysm research for each person afflicted.

Brain Aneurysm Treatment Options

Treatment options depend on the size and location of the aneurysm and whether or not it has ruptured.  At The NeuroMedical Center, our neurosurgeons neurosurgeons offer expertise in both surgical techniques and minimally invasive endovascular approaches to treating aneurysms.  They will work closely with our neuroradiology team and other brain aneurysm experts to determine which solution will achieve the most effective results for you.  In many cases, an aneurysm can be treated with surgical clipping or coil embolization. Other treatment options include medications, pain relievers, and the insertion of a drainage catheter or shunt. Rehabilitative therapy may be required as a part of recovery from a brain aneurysm.

Expert Care for Brain Aneursyms in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The NeuroMedical Center offers expert guidance to patients with brain aneurysms. Our team can help reduce the risk of a rupture, monitor how an aneurysm is advancing, and provide a comprehensive range of treatment solutions as needed.  Ensure that you receive the very care for brain aneurysm or any neurologic condition by choosing The NeuroMedical Center.  Schedule an evaluation by calling us today (225) 768-2050 or by requesting an appointment online.