Know the Signs of Brain Aneurysm

Since this is Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month, let’s make sure to know the warning signs of brain aneurysm.

A weak area in a blood-vessel wall of the brain that causes the vessel to bulge or balloon out, a brain aneurysm may leak a small amount of blood into the brain (a subarachnoid hemorrhage) that causes a sudden and severely painful headache. Most patients describe it as the worst headache of their life.

Besides an excruciating headache, other possible signs of brain aneurysm are:

• nausea;
• blurred or double vision;
• stiff neck or neck pain;
• pain above or behind an eye; and
• numbness.

If you or a loved one has any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

There are two safe, effective brain aneurysm treatments: coiling and clipping.

Clipping is a surgical procedure performed for both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. It cuts off the blood flow to the aneurysm while maintaining normal blood flow in the surrounding areas.

Coiling is a minimally invasive procedure that deploys soft platinum coils to fill an unruptured aneurysm. The coils conform to the shape of the aneurysm, fill the sac and prevent the aneurysm from rupturing.

To benefit from brain aneurysm treatment, you must first recognize the symptoms. The more we learn about the warning signs of brain aneurysm, the more lives can be saved. So please join hundreds of brain aneurysm survivors, their families and their healthcare providers for North Shore-LIJ’s Fifth Annual Long Island Brain Aneurysm Awareness Walk on Saturday, September 28, at Jones Beach State Park. The rain-or-shine event will benefit the Brain Aneurysm Foundation and the North Shore-LIJ Brain Aneurysm Center. Last year, walkers and runners raised about $60,000. Preregister online for $25, including parking and snacks, or call 516-562-3815.

This post was written by David Chalif, MD, co-director of the Brain Aneurysm Center at the Cushing Neuroscience Institute and chief of neurovascular neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital. 

For more North Shore-LIJ Health Blog posts, go to http://blog.northshorelij.com/ 

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