The word aneurysm may not sound familiar to many people but it’s just one of those big medical terms for something that is quite simple. An aneurysm is basically a bulge or swelling in a blood vessel. Blood vessels are responsible for transporting blood around the body but sometimes, due to several factors, the walls of the vessel can become weak and his can cause some problems. A weak blood vessel can become swollen and even burst and this can be a life threatening event, especially if this happens in the heart or brain.
For that reason, it’s important to pay attention to the warning signs of an aneurysm. If you make yourself familiar with the symptoms, it could very well mean the difference between life and death.
Some symptoms to watch out for include:
Headaches
Headaches are a common symptom and as such are not always regarded very seriously, however, sometimes the indication of a serious problem, including aneurysms. Different types of headaches come with different symptoms and result from different problems. Aneurysms are no exception here. Generally, aneurysms cause very serious headaches, ones that hurt much worse than other head pains. This pain is so intense because blood is bursting from a blood vessel, and it is leaking onto the outer layers of the brain causing irritation and pain. This pain is sometimes described as a “thunderclap headache” and tends to come on rather suddenly.
Vision
Have you ever had a headache so bad that it disturbed your vision? Chances are, an aneurysm will contribute to that. When an aneurysm occurs, even before it bursts, it begins to put pressure on everything around it. This is part of the headache, and it can also cause eye trouble because the increasing size comes into contact with the nerves of the eye. This will lead to problems with your vision and can also affect the nerves in the eyelids, causing the eyelids to droop and this is known as ptosis.
Gastrointestinal problems
Not all of the symptoms of a brain aneurysm happen in the brain. An aneurysm in the brain can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body that are likely to be overlooked because they do not appear related.The pressure brought on by a brain aneurysm can contribute to sudden bouts of nausea or vomiting and even diarrhea. Such symptoms come as a result of the bleeding and the headache. Along with nausea, there are some other common symptoms such as dizziness and sensitivity to light, or a stiff neck.
Risk factors
There are a number of risk factors that increase the chances of experiencing a brain aneurysm: controlling these factors can improve not only your likelihood of avoiding an aneurysm but also your overall quality of life.
Smoking
Smoking can contribute to aneurysms and even strokes, largely in part to the effect smoking has on one’s blood pressure. Smoking is also culpable in other ways; cigarettes have numerous carcinogens, or substances that create or encourage cancer, in them. Cancerous growths can contribute to aneurysms as well. Aside from those, smoking generally contributes to poorer body health and quality of life.
High Blood Pressure
Because aneurysms essentially result from swelling blood vessels, it’s easy to see how high blood pressure, can contribute to aneurysms. Naturally, then, it makes sense to lower blood pressure as much as possible. A diet high in fats and salts contributes to hypertension: fat may build up in the arteries, and salt may make them less flexible. These both force the heart to work harder moving blood through the body and lead to weakness is the blood vessels.
Ageing
Getting older is not something any of us can prevent, but we can do our best to age well. When it comes to aging well, a lot of that comes down to diet and exercise. Both of these can have significant impacts on your body, because exercise will keep your body and mind sharp, improving the functions of your organs and your cognitive processes. A healthy diet will include antioxidants, which reduce the wear and tear your cells receive.
Aneurysms can definitely be dangerous, especially when they occur near the heart (aortic) or the brain (intracranial). While there are numerous factors that are beyond our control to prevent them, there are a number of important lifestyle changes we can make to improve our odds. Keeping a normal blood pressure, eating healthy foods, and getting regular exercise all go a long way in protecting blood vessel health, and also health overall. Furthermore, being aware of risk factors as well as symptoms of an aneurysm allow one to be prepared to take both preventative and emergency action.
If you think you or anyone you know have a brain aneurysm, speak to a medical professional immediately.
