Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Identifying a cerebral aneurysm
• Method 2 of 4: Locating an aortic aneurysm
• Method 3 of 4: Confirming the Diagnosis
• Method 4 of 4: What is an aneurysm

An aneurysm is a condition in which a blood vessel enlarges due to injury or weakness in the vessel wall. Aneurysms can occur anywhere in the body, but most often aneurysms occur in the aorta (the main artery that runs from the heart) and in the brain. The size of the aneurysm can vary depending on factors such as trauma, various diseases, genetic predisposition, or congenital diseases. The larger the aneurysm, the higher the risk that it will rupture and cause severe bleeding. Most aneurysms develop asymptomatically, to the point of rupture, which is often fatal (65% -80% of cases), so it is very important to see a doctor immediately.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Identifying a cerebral aneurysm

1. 1 Pay attention to severe and sudden headaches. If an artery bursts in the brain due to an aneurysm, it causes an acute headache that comes on suddenly. This headache is the main symptom of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm.
   • Typically, this headache is much worse than any other headache you may have ever experienced.
   • This headache is usually quite localized and limited to the side where the artery burst.
   • For example, if an artery near the eye bursts, it will cause severe pain radiating to the eye.
   • The headache may also be accompanied by nausea and / or vomiting.
2. 2 Pay attention to any visual impairment. Double vision, blurred vision and blindness are signs of an aneurysm of the cerebral vessels. Visual impairment is due to the fact that pressure on the arterial wall near the eyes blocks the blood flow to them.
   • The accumulation of blood can also pinch the optic nerve, which in turn can cause blurred vision or double vision.
   • Blindness occurs due to retinal ischemia when there is insufficient blood flow to the retinal tissues.
3. 3 Check if your pupils are dilated. Dilated pupils are a common sign of a cerebral aneurysm, as with a cerebral aneurysm, the arteries close to the eyes are blocked. Usually, with an aneurysm, one pupil is much more dilated than the other.
   • Pupil enlargement occurs due to increased pressure due to blood accumulating in the brain.
   • An increase in the pupil may indicate that the aneurysm has just occurred, and it is characterized by damage to the vessel near the eyes.
4. 4 Pay attention to eye pain. You may experience severe throbbing or severe eye pain with an aneurysm.
   • This happens when the affected artery is near the eyes.
   • Eye pain is usually one-sided, since it is localized on the side from which the aneurysm is located in the brain.
5. 5 Pay attention to neck numbness. Neck numbness can occur due to an aneurysm if a nerve in the neck is affected by a bursting artery.
   • It is not at all necessary that the ruptured artery is in the place on the neck where the pain is felt.
   • This is because the nerves in the neck stretch far up and down into the head area.
6. 6 Assess if you feel weak in one side of your body. Weakness in half of the body is a common sign of aneurysm, depending on which part of the brain is affected.
   • If the right hemisphere is affected, it will lead to left-sided paralysis of the body.
   • Conversely, if the left hemisphere is affected, it will lead to right-sided paralysis.
7. 7 See a doctor immediately. A ruptured aneurysm leads to death in 40% of cases, and about 66% of people who survived a ruptured cerebral aneurysm have some kind of brain damage. If you experience any of the above symptoms, call an ambulance immediately.
   • Doctors do not recommend going to the hospital on your own or asking someone from your relatives or friends to take you to the hospital.When an aneurysm ruptures, events can develop very dynamically, therefore, the help of doctors and medical equipment with which ambulances are equipped may be necessary.

Method 2 of 4: Locating an aortic aneurysm

1. 1 Be aware that the aortic aneurysm can be either abdominal or thoracic. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood to the heart and all limbs, and aneurysms that occur in the aorta can be divided into two subtypes:
   • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (ABA). An aneurysm that occurs in the abdominal region (abdominal area) is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This is the most common type of aneurysm and is fatal in 80% of cases.
   • Thoracic aortic aneurysm (AHA). This type of aneurysm is located in the chest area and occurs above the diaphragm. In the process of AGA, its area in the heart area increases, affecting the valve between the heart and the aorta. When this happens, backflow of blood enters the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle.
2. 2 Pay attention to sharp and sudden abdominal and back pain. Often, severe and sudden pain in the stomach or back can be a symptom of an abdominal or thoracic aortic aneurysm.
   • The pain is caused by a bulging artery pressing against nearby organs and muscles.
   • The pain usually does not go away on its own.
3. 3 Pay attention to nausea or vomiting. If severe abdominal or back pain is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, then there is a high probability that you have a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
   • This aneurysm can also be accompanied by constipation and difficulty urinating.
4. 4 Check if your head is spinning. Dizziness can be caused by severe blood loss, which often occurs when an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures.
   • Dizziness can also lead to loss of consciousness.
5. 5 Check your pulse. The sudden increase in heart rate is a response to internal blood loss and anemia that occurs when an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures.
6. 6 Feel your skin to see if it feels damp and cold. Damp and cold skin can be a signaling symptom of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
   • This is due to the so-called embolus - a movable blood clot formed by an abdominal aneurysm and affecting the temperature of the skin's surface.
7. 7 Pay attention to any sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. Because a thoracic aortic aneurysm forms in the chest area, the enlarged aorta can compress the lungs and other organs, causing chest pain, difficulty breathing, and hoarseness.
   • Chest pain feels intense and stabbing.
   • Mild chest pain is probably not a symptom of an aneurysm.
8. 8 Swallow and check to see if you find it difficult to swallow. Difficulty swallowing may indicate a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
   • Difficulty swallowing can be caused by the enlargement of the aorta, which begins to press on the esophagus and makes it difficult to swallow.
9. 9 Say something and listen for the wheezing in your voice. An enlarged artery can compress the throat nerve and vocal cords, resulting in hoarseness.
   • This hoarseness may come on suddenly, rather than gradually, as with colds and flu.

Method 3 of 4: Confirming the Diagnosis

1. 1 Get an ultrasound scan for a preliminary diagnosis. An ultrasound (ultrasound) scan is a painless procedure that uses sound waves to produce images and pictures of specific parts of the body.
   • This test is only used to diagnose an aortic aneurysm.
2. 2 Get a computed tomography (CT) scan. This examination uses X-rays to obtain body structures. CT is a painless procedure that provides more detailed images than ultrasound. CT is the best type of examination when an aneurysm is suspected or when the doctor wants to rule out other possible conditions.
   • During this procedure, the doctor injects a special X-ray contrast agent into the vein, which makes the aorta and other arteries visible on CT.
   • CT can be used to diagnose all types of aneurysms.
   • You can get a CT scan as part of your routine medical check-up, even if you don't think you have a brain aneurysm. This is a great way to diagnose aneurysm at its earliest stage.
3. 3 Get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This procedure uses magnets and radio waves to capture images of internal organs and other structures in the body. This procedure is usually painless and useful for identifying, locating, and measuring the aneurysm.
   • MRI helps to obtain not 2D, but 3D images of the vessels of the brain.
   • MRI can be used to diagnose any type of aneurysm.
   • In some cases, MRI and cerebral angiography may be used for mutual confirmation.
   • Using computer-generated radio waves, MRI can produce more detailed images of blood vessels in the brain than computed tomography.
   • The procedure is safe and painless.
   • Unlike X-rays, MRI does not use radiation and is safe for people who need to avoid exposure to radiation (such as pregnant women).
4. 4 Get an angiogram to check the inside of your arteries. This procedure uses X-rays and special dyes to see the inside of the affected artery.
   • It will show the extent and severity of the damage to the artery - with this procedure, you can easily see the build-up of plaque and blockage of the arterial channels.
   • Cerebral angiography is only used to diagnose a cerebral aneurysm. The procedure is invasive because it uses a small catheter that is inserted into the leg.
   • As a result of this procedure, the exact location of the ruptured artery in the brain can be seen.
   • After the dye is injected, a series of X-rays or MRI scans are taken to create a detailed image of the blood vessels in the brain.

Method 4 of 4: What is an aneurysm

1. 1 Causes of cerebral aneurysm. Aneurysm of the cerebral vessels occurs when the arteries in the brain become thinner and stretched, resulting in a so-called aneurysmal sac, which subsequently ruptures. They often form on the branches of the arteries, which are the weakest parts of the vessels.
   • When the aneurysmal sac ruptures, prolonged bleeding into the brain occurs.
   • Blood is toxic to the brain, so hemorrhagic syndrome occurs when bleeding.
   • Most aneurysms occur in the subarachnoid space, the area between the brain and the cranial bone.
2. 2 Risk factors. Aortic aneurysms and brain aneurysms share several risk factors in common. Some factors are beyond our control, such as congenital diseases, but the effects of lifestyle factors can be minimized. The most common risk factors for aortic aneurysm and cerebral aneurysm are:
   • Smoking increases the risk of developing both types of aneurysms.
   • Hypertension, or high blood pressure, damages the blood vessels and the surface of the aorta.
   • With age, the risk of developing a cerebral aneurysm increases, especially after 50 years. With age, the aorta becomes less elastic, which is why aneurysms are most often found in older people.
   • Various inflammatory processes can affect the vessels and lead to the development of an aneurysm. For example, vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) can damage and scar the aorta.
   • Injuries, such as those from falls or traffic accidents, can damage the aorta.
   • Some infections (such as syphilis) can damage the surface of the aorta.Bacterial and fungal infections of the brain can damage blood vessels and lead to aneurysms.
   • Substance use (especially cocaine) and alcohol abuse can lead to hypertension, which in turn increases the risk of developing a brain aneurysm.
   • Gender also matters: men have a significantly higher risk of developing an aortic aneurysm than women, but women have a higher risk of developing a cerebral aneurysm.
   • Certain inherited disorders (such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome, both of which are associated with connective tissue) can weaken the blood vessels in the brain and aorta.
3. 3 Stop smoking. Smoking is thought to help form and rupture a brain aneurysm. Smoking is also the most important contributor to the development of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). About 90% of people with aortic aneurysm are or have been smokers.
   • The sooner you quit smoking, the lower your risk of developing an aneurysm.
4. 4 Monitor your blood pressure. Hypertension, that is, high blood pressure, leads to damage to the blood vessels in the brain and the lining of the aorta, which in turn contributes to the development of an aneurysm.
   • If you are overweight, losing excess weight can help lower your blood pressure. Even a loss of 4-5 kg ​​will give a positive result.
   • Exercise regularly. Moderate exercise for 30 minutes will help you lower your blood pressure.
   • Limit your alcohol intake. Do not drink more than 1 or 2 servings per day (1 serving for women and 2 for most men).
5. 5 Monitor your diet. Taking care of the health of your blood vessels will help you prevent aneurysm from developing. Eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture. A balanced diet with a predominance of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats will help prevent aneurysm formation.
   • Reduce your salt intake. Limiting sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day or less (people with high blood pressure are advised not to consume more than 1,500 mg sodium) - this will help control pressure, which affects the condition of the blood vessels.
   • Reduce your cholesterol intake. Try to eat foods high in soluble fiber, especially oatmeal and oat bran, to help lower your "bad" cholesterol (LDL). Apples, pears, beans, barley, and prunes are also rich in soluble fiber. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as sardines, tuna, salmon, or halibut also help lower cholesterol levels.
   • Eat healthy fats. Try to avoid eating saturated and trans fats. Fish, vegetable oils (such as olive oil), nuts and seeds are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which reduce the risk of developing aneurysms. Avocados are also a source of "good" fats and help lower cholesterol levels.