3. A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a
bulging, weak area in the wall
of an artery that supplies blood
to the brain. In rare cases, the
brain aneurysm ruptures,
releasing blood into the skull
and causing a stroke.
When a brain aneurysm
ruptures, the result is called a
subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Depending on the severity of the
haemorrhage, brain damage or
death may result.
4. The most common
location for brain
aneurysms is in the
network of blood
vessels at the base of
the brain called the
circle of Willis.
5. One thousand human brains of
both sexes were examined.
Aneurysms were found in 10
specimens (1%).
The incidence of aneurysms was
1.6% in females and 0.8% in
males.
All the aneurysms were saccular.
The aneurysms varied in size.
In 5 specimens the aneurysms
were minute bulbous dilatations.
In the rest of the cases it varied
from 0.2 to 2.5 cm.
The youngest subject with saccular
aneurysm was an 18-years-old
male and the oldest was a 55-
years-old male.
No aneurysm was found in the
brains of 94 children (1-17 years)
1
0.8
1.6
TOTAL
POPULATION
AFFECTED
TOTAL MALES
AFFECTED
TOTAL FEMALES
AFFECTED
Percentage of
Population Affected
Percentage of People Affected
6. Almost 5,00,000 people die every year
due to brain aneurysms every year i.e.,
approximately 0.07% of the total
population .
It's difficult to estimate exactly how
many people are affected by brain
aneurysms because in most cases they
cause no symptoms and pass
undetected. Some experts believe it
could be as high as one in 20 people,
while others think the figure is much
lower at around one in a 100 people.
Brain aneurysms can develop in anyone
at any age, but are more common in
people over 40 years of age and
women tend to be affected more
commonly than men.
7. There is a brain aneurysm
rupturing every 18 minutes.
Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal
in about 40% of cases.
4 out of 7 people who recover from
a ruptured brain aneurysm will
have disabilities.
Brain aneurysms are most
prevalent in people ages 35 - 60,
but can occur in children as well.
There are typically no warning
signs.
Aneurysms larger than one inch are
referred to as "giant" aneurysms
and can pose a particularly high
risk and can be difficult to treat.
Women, more than men, suffer
from brain aneurysms at a ratio of
3:2.
8. Family History: People who have a family
history of brain aneurysms are more
likely to have an aneurysm than those
who don't.
Previous aneurysm: People who have
had a brain aneurysm are more likely to
have another.
Gender: Women are more likely to
develop a brain aneurysm or to suffer a
subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Race: African Americans are more likely
than whites to have a subarachnoid
hemorrhage.
High blood pressure: The risk of
subarachnoid hemorrhage is greater in
people who have a history of high blood
pressure.
Smoking: The use of cigarettes may
greatly increase the chances of a brain
aneurysm rupturing
9. A sudden, severe
headache that is
different from
past headaches.
Neck pain
Nausea and
vomiting
Sensitivity to light
Fainting or loss of
consciousness
10. The diagnosis of an
aneurysm can be done
in four ways:
Computed tomography
(CT) scan
Computed tomography
angiogram (CTA) scan
Magnetic resonance
angiography (MRA)
Cerebral angiogram
11. You cannot always
prevent brain
aneurysms, but you
can reduce your risk
by:
A) Saying no to
Smoking:
B)Exercising
regularly and keeping
a check on Blood
Pressure reduces the
risk of an aneurysm
12. The pain of a ruptured
aneurysm is often
considered as a migraine
pain and is ignored by
people .
While the symptoms of
the pain caused by a
migraine and the pain
caused by aneurysms are
similar, but the
conditions are not
related.
14. Not all aneurysms need to
be treated. Physician may
elect to closely observe
the aneurysm. There are
two main treatment
options for patients who
need to have their
aneurysm treated.
Open surgical “clipping”.
Endovascular therapy:
“coiling”.
15. In this method, an incision
is done in the skin over
the head, an opening is
made in the bone and the
spaces of the brain are
dissected to place a clip
across the aneurysm
where it arises from the
blood vessel. This
prevents the blood flow
from entering the
aneurysm
16. In this method, a catheter is
inserted into a vessel over the hip
and other catheters are navigated
through the blood vessels to the
vessels of the brain and into the
aneurysm. Coils are then packed
into the aneurysm up to the point
where it arises from the blood
vessel, preventing blood flow
from entering the aneurysm.
17. There are many clubs and agencies
that are working to spread
awareness about brain aneurysms
and to help people suffering from
the disease. Some of the main
clubs and agencies are:
Brain Aneurysm Foundation
High Risk Life Insurance
Agencies
Maine Track Club
US Preventive Services Task
Force
