A piercing headache that does not seem to go away may have you making a doctor’s appointment. In some instances, you may bypass the office and seek emergency treatment.
A brain aneurysm may burst with little to no warning. However, there are some symptoms that preset before and after that may help you get the medical intervention you need. If you experience any of these signs and your doctor does not want to scan your brain, you may need to advocate for a second opinion.
Causes of a brain aneurysm
Brain aneurysms are serious medical events that may lead to death. They are the result of a bulge in one of the blood vessels in the brain. An aneurysm may form after you suffer a head injury, especially if you have other risk factors such as high blood pressure.
Symptoms before rupture
Most aneurysms are small and give no signs. You may go through life with an aneurysm and not know it. However, if the bulge is large, it may start to give off symptoms such as:
- One dilated pupil
- Pressure behind and above one eye
- Vision changes
- Numbness on a single side of the face
Telltale signs of a bleed
A sudden and severe headache may indicate an aneurysm is leaking blood into the brain. A rupture occurs when the bulge bursts. Along with the head pain, a ruptured bulge may result in a seizure, sudden confusion, vomiting and a stiff neck. A rupture may cause permanent brain damage or death.
Brain aneurysms may become deadly if a doctor does not diagnose the condition quickly enough. Once treatment begins, you have a better chance of surviving with most or all of your function intact.