A brain aneurysm is a serious medical condition that necessitates prompt diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, a brain aneurysm can leak or rupture, leading to severe health complications or even a fatality. The Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology Institute of Austin performs a thorough evaluation of your condition using the latest diagnostic techniques, following which we curate a personalized treatment plan. If you identify the signs and symptoms of a brain aneurysm, please schedule a consultation at our neurological center with our brain aneurysm doctor in Austin.
Brain Aneurysm FAQs
What is a brain aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a medical condition wherein a blood vessel in the brain, usually between the brain and the surrounding tissues, balloons or bulges. If the enlarged blood vessel leaks or ruptures, you may experience a brain hemorrhage, which can be potentially fatal. Even if the blood vessel doesn’t rupture, you may suffer from numerous health complications, such as headaches, vision changes, numbness, and more. Patients with the signs and symptoms of a brain aneurysm must seek prompt diagnosis and treatment and sometimes require neurosurgical consultation.
What are the symptoms of a brain aneurysm?
The signs and symptoms of the brain aneurysm depend on numerous factors, including whether the enlarged blood vessel has ruptured/ leaked or if it’s unruptured. If you notice the signs and symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm, you must seek immediate medical attention because the situation can be potentially life-threatening.
The following are the signs and symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm:
- Pain above and behind the eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Numbness on one side of the face
- Changes in vision
- Double vision
The following are the signs and symptoms of a ruptured or leaking brain aneurysm:
- Sudden and severe headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- Drooping eyelids
- Seizures (without a history of seizures)
- Increased photosensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Stiff neck
What causes brain aneurysm?
The specific causes of a brain aneurysm are unknown. But the most common risk factors for a brain aneurysm include heavy alcohol consumption, drug abuse, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, aging, head injuries, and certain blood infections.
How is a brain aneurysm diagnosed?
The tell-tale sign of a brain aneurysm is a sudden and severe headache, often described as the “worst headache.” If you identify the signs and symptoms of an aneurysm, the medical provider will administer numerous tests to determine if there’s bleeding in the space between your brain and the surrounding tissues. The diagnostic tests may include CT scans, cerebrospinal fluid tests, MRIs, and cerebral angiograms.
What are the treatments for brain aneurysms?
Depending on your unique condition and symptoms and whether the aneurysm has ruptured, your treatment plan may include: routine imaging monitoring, neurosurgical consultation, medications, and rehabilitation therapy. Please contact our brain aneurysm doctor in Austin today for a consultation.
