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Brain aneurysm: Are you at risk? 
Though you’ve likely heard of brain aneurysm, many people aren’t sure exactly what it is or if they are at risk. Simply put, an aneurysm is an abnormal bulging in the wall of an artery. A brain aneurysm is when this occurs in an artery in the brain. Most brain aneurysms cause no symptoms until they get very large, begin to leak blood or rupture. A ruptured aneurysm is called a stroke. Risk factors Men are more likely to suffer an aneurysm than women. Brain aneurysms tend to occur more often in middle age. Many of the risk factors for aneurysm, however, are unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.
Signs of aneurysm According to the National Brain Aneurysm Center, formerly the HealthEast Neurovascular Institute, most people who have an aneurysm will not have any symptoms until it bursts or puts pressure on the surrounding brain tissue. Call 911 immediately if you experience:
The danger of a brain aneurysm depends on its size and location in the brain, whether it leaks or ruptures, and a person's age and overall health. An unruptured aneurysm, if it is small, will likely go undetected. Larger aneurysms, however, can press on the brain or the nerves stemming out of the brain and result in double vision, weakness, numbness, seizures and difficulty speaking. Take charge of your health While we cannot predict who will or will not suffer from brain aneurysm, anyone can reduce his or her risk by eliminating unhealthy lifestyle habits. A healthy diet, exercise and addressing health conditions such as high blood pressure can help you avoid any number of health conditions. If you need help managing your health, make an appointment to talk to your HealthEast clinician today.
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