An aneurysm is a balloon-like weakness or expansion in an artery. Large blood vessels transport oxygenated blood from the heart to various body regions. A bulge or aneurysm may develop due to the force of the blood flowing through a weak spot in the arterial wall.
typically its doesn’t hurt. It’s possible that you won’t be aware of it until it ruptures or bursts. If it does, it might be fatal or severe.
Symptoms of Aneurysm
Usually, people are unaware of having an aneurysm. When it ruptures, it’s a medical emergency that must be treated immediately. The rupturing symptoms of an aneurysm appear suddenly. You could feel;
- Lightheaded
- Fast heart rate
- Abrupt, excruciating pain in your back, chest, abdomen, or head
- Abrupt loss of consciousness after a painful headache
The symptoms of an aneurysm depend on where it is located. Shock symptoms include a dip in blood pressure, feeling clammy, and a racing heart. Other aneurysm signs and symptoms may include;
- Confusion or lightheadedness
- Having trouble swallowing
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Sickness or vomiting
- Back, chest, or abdominal pain
- Pulsating abdominal mass or neck swelling
- Quick heartbeat
- Vision morphs
Types of Aneurysm
1) Brain Aneurysm:
An intracranial or cerebral aneurysm is the medical term used for an aneurysm that develops inside the brain. Most brain aneurysms only manifest symptoms when rupture, resulting in a deadly disease called ‘subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this condition, bleeding occurs from the ruptured aneurysm that can severely injure the brain and produce symptoms.
Symptoms of Brain Aneurysm:
The following are signs of a ruptured brain aneurysm;
- A sudden, excruciating headache that has been compared to a “thunderclap headache” and causes blinding anguish unlike anything else you’ve ever felt.
- A tense neck
- Ill health and vomiting
- Discomfort when viewing light
Causes of Brain Aneurysm:
An aneurysm in the brain has no recognized cause. Researchers claim that certain substances irritate and weaken blood vessels;
- Smoking
- A bloodborne pathogen
- Increasing blood pressure (hypertension)
- Use of cocaine and amphetamine
- Trauma-induced brain damage (often caused by car crashes)
- Atherosclerosis (fatty accumulation on blood-vessel walls)
2) Aortic Aneurysm
The aorta, which conducts blood from the heart through the chest and body, develops a balloon-like protrusion called an aortic aneurysm. Aortic aneurysms may split open or burst;
- The arterial wall’s layers may separate due to the stress of blood pumping, causing blood to seep in between them. The procedure is known as a dissection.
- Aneurysms have the potential to burst entirely (rupture), resulting in internal bleeding.
- Most aortic aneurysm deaths are caused by dissections and ruptures.
Treatments of Aortic Aneurysm
- Un-ruptured Aortic Aneurysm Treatment:
Your healthcare professional will regularly monitor your status and may advise routine screenings if you have an un-ruptured aortic aneurysm. Treatment aims to stop the aneurysm from enlarging to the point where it can rupture or tear the artery. Your doctor will recommend drugs to enhance blood flow, decrease blood pressure, or manage cholesterol for smaller, un-ruptured aneurysms. All can aid in reducing stress on the arterial wall and stifling aneurysm formation.
- Surgeries of Aortic Aneurysm:
Surgery may be necessary for giant aneurysms with dissecting or rupture risks. Aortic aneurysms may be treated surgically using one of the following techniques;
- Open aneurysm repair: An open aneurysm repair involves removing the aneurysm and repairing the artery using a graft (a piece of specialized tubing). It might also be explicitly required in case of a ruptured aneurysm.
- Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR): Endovascular surgery is a minimally invasive technique for treating aortic aneurysms, often known as endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Your doctor will place a graft to strengthen or mend the artery using a catheter (thin tube) during the treatment. This surgery is also known as fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) or thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR).
3) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm:
An expansion of the body’s main blood supply’s lower section is known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm (aorta). From the heart, the aorta travels through the middle of the chest and belly. Since the aorta is the body’s major blood vessel, a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can result in potentially fatal bleeding.
Treatment options range from watchful waiting to urgent surgery, depending on the aneurysm’s size and growth rate.
Symptoms of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm:
It can be challenging to diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysms because they frequently develop slowly and without apparent symptoms. Some aneurysms do not burst. Many people have tiny aneurysms that don’t grow, while others occasionally expand over time.
You might notice or see the following if you have an expanding abdominal aortic aneurysm;
- Continual, severe pain in the side or area of the belly (abdomen)
- Backache
- The abdomen’s nearby pulse
References:
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22769-aneurysm
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/brain-aneurysm/
- https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/aortic_aneurysm.htm
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350688
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16742-aorta-aortic-aneurysm
