Signs and Symptoms
A small, unchanging aneurysm will produce little, if any, symptoms. Before a larger aneurysm ruptures, the individual may experience such symptoms as a sudden and unusually severe headache, nausea, vision impairment, vomiting, and loss of consciousness, or the individual may be asymptomatic, experiencing no symptoms at all.
If an aneurysm ruptures, it leaks blood into the space around the brain. This is called a “subarachnoid hemorrhage.” Depending on the amount of blood, it can produce:
- a sudden severe headache that can last from several hours to days
- nausea and vomiting
- drowsiness and/or coma
The ruptured aneurism (hemorrhage) may also damage the brain directly, usually from bleeding into the brain itself. This is called a “hemorrhagic stroke.” This can lead to:
- weakness or paralysis of an arm or leg
- trouble speaking or understanding language
- vision problems
- seizures
Read more about this topic: Cerebral Aneurysm
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