Understanding Aneurysms: 10 Symptoms to Be Aware Of

An aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel in the brain begins to bulge due to weakness in the blood vessel wall. These enlarged vessels can leak, causing a rupture and bleeding in the brain. Once an aneurysm has burst or broken, it becomes life-threatening. Before the rupture, however, it may exist for years without detection, despite the fact that a growing aneurysm can cause a variety of symptoms.

1. Severe Headache

A severe and sudden headache is often the first sign of an impending rupture of an aneurysm in the brain. This kind of pain occurs when blood begins leaking from the aneurysm, otherwise known as a sentinel bleed. In most cases, an aneurysm will create a small leak. If the leak becomes severe, a rupture may follow. The pain of these headaches is incredibly intense and comes on suddenly. These two factors indicate the symptom is more than a normal headache and that the individual requires immediate medical assistance.