FAQ: Brain Aneurysms
What to know and how to cope with diagnosis.
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A Closer Look at Brain Aneurysms - The passing of Bernadette Hernandez, mother of singer Bruno Mars, from a brain aneurysm over the weekend brought the music community together in mourning for the second time following the passing of Andre 3000's mother days earlier from what appeared to be natural causes. Keep reading for a closer look at brain aneurysms, prevention and how to cope with diagnosis. —Britt Middleton (Photo: Getty Images/Blend Images)
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What Is a Brain Aneurysm? - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes a brain aneurysm (also referred to as cerebral aneurysm) as an abnormal bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of an artery in the brain. It is sometimes referred to as a "berry aneurysm" because the shape resembles a small berry. They can occur anywhere in the brain, but are typically located along a loop of arteries running between the underside of the brain and the base of the skull. (Photo: Getty Images/Custom Medical Stoc)
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How Does It Affect the Body? - The bulge can put pressure on a nerve or surrounding brain tissue. The aneurysm may also leak or rupture, hemorrhaging blood into the surrounding brain tissue. Some brain aneurysms, especially those smaller in size, do not bleed or cause other problems. (Photo: Getty Images/Photo Researchers R)
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What Causes a Brain Aneurysm? - Brain aneurysms can be congenital (present at birth or developing thereafter) resulting in an abnormality in an artery wall. The NIH reports that brain aneurysms are also more common in people with certain genetic diseases, such as connective tissue disorders and polycystic kidney disease, and certain circulatory disorders, such as arteriovenous malformations (snarled tangles of arteries and veins in the brain that disrupt blood flow). (Photo: GettyImages)
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Other Causes - "Other causes include trauma or injury to the head, high blood pressure, infection, tumors, atherosclerosis (a blood vessel disease in which fats build up on the inside of artery walls) and other diseases of the vascular system, cigarette smoking, and drug abuse. Some investigators have speculated that oral contraceptives may increase the risk of developing aneurysms," writes the NIH. (Photo: GettyImages)
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Common Symptoms - When a bulging aneurysm hemorrhages, many people experience a sudden and extremely severe headache. Droopy eyelids, double vision, pain above or behind the eye or dilated pupils are also associated with brain aneurysms. Click here for more information about warning signs. (Photo: GettyImages)
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Risk Factors - A brain aneurysm can happen to anyone at any age, although they are more common in adults and slightly more common in women than in men. All aneurysms have the possibility for rupture, and if they do, hemorrhaging could cause hemorrhagic stroke, permanent nerve damage or death. The rupture may also cause additional aneurysms to develop. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)
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Screening - The Brain Aneurysm Foundation says doctors can painlessly screen for brain aneurysms with digital imaging software. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) that uses computer-generated radio waves and a powerful magnetic field to produce detailed images of the brain CT (Computed Tomography) that reveals the presence of an aneurysm and whether it has burst are common options. (Photo: GettyImages)
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Treatment Options - Depending on the size of the aneurysm and if the aneurysm has not ruptured, a medical professional may choose either surgical treatment or observation to monitor the aneurysm's growth. If the aneurysm has ruptured, open surgery or an endovascular approach is recommended. (Photo: GettyImages)
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Prevention - The NIH reports that there are no known ways to prevent brain aneurysms. However, people with a diagnosed brain aneurysm should stop smoking, monitor high blood pressure and avoid cocaine use or other stimulant drugs. (Photo by Jan Pitman/Getty Images)
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Coping With Emotional Stress - It can be difficult to deal with the diagnosis of yourself or a loved one. There are a number of support resources available through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. (Photo: GettyImages)