Brain Aneurysm Symptoms: What to Look for

Imagine you’re filling a water balloon that has a weak spot in one location. As you add water, that thinner area swells and thins out from the pressure, ultimately leading to its rupture – similar to a ruptured brain aneurysm. 

Some people develop weak spots in arteries in or around their brains. As blood rushes through arteries, the pressure can make thin sections bulge, forming aneurysms.

It’s believed brain aneurysms develop over time, thus they are most common among people aged 30 to 60. Brain aneurysms may also be influenced by hormones because they are significantly more common in females.  Overall, about 1 in 50 people in the U.S. are believed to have an unruptured brain aneurysm. Fortunately, only a small percentage of brain aneurysms rupture, becoming medical emergencies.

Symptoms of a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm

After a brain aneurysm ruptures, blood flows into the area surrounding the brain. This is considered a type of hemorrhagic stroke. The area surrounding the brain is called the subarachnoid space, which is why aneurysms are associated with a “subarachnoid hemorrhage.” Blood accumulating in the skull puts pressure on the brain, causing sudden symptoms.

People who have a ruptured brain aneurysm experience symptoms such as:

• A “thunderclap” headache, which feels like the worst headache you’ve ever had
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• A stiff neck
• Seizures
• Sensitivity to bright light
• An eyelid that droops
• A dilated pupil
• Pain that arises suddenly behind your eye
• Sudden loss of consciousness

“Patients with ruptured brain aneurysms are more likely to survive if they receive immediate emergency medical care,” says neurosurgeon, Brian Jankowitz, M.D., co-director of JFK University Medical Center’s Stroke and Neurovascular Center. “Delaying medical care may cause death or disability, so recognizing a rupture is important.”

Symptoms of an Unruptured Brain Aneurysm

Most of the time, an unruptured brain aneurysm doesn’t cause symptoms. However, people with unruptured aneurysms may feel differently in some cases.

“If it’s large enough, an unruptured aneurysm can press against areas within the brain,” Dr. Jankowitz says. “This pressure on brain structures is what can cause symptoms.”

People who have unruptured brain aneurysms and who have symptoms may experience:

• Severe, constant headaches
• Double vision or other sudden vision changes
• A dilated pupil
• Pain behind an eye
• Facial numbness or tingling, often on one side of the face
  
  

What to Do if You Suspect a Brain Aneurysm

If you think that you or a loved one has a ruptured brain aneurysm:

• Call 911 quickly to seek emergency care
• Don’t drive to the hospital; EMTs can provide crucial care in the ambulance

If you think that you or a loved one has an unruptured brain aneurysm:

• Seek medical care for a diagnosis
• Your doctor will likely recommend an imaging study such as an MRA or CTA

“For an unruptured aneurysm, doctors may recommend watching and waiting,” Dr. Jankowitz says. “On the other hand, ruptured aneurysms require quick diagnosis and treatment.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Brian Jankowitz, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Jankowitz or another physician near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website. 

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.