A cerebral aneurysm, or brain aneurysm, is a weak spot on a blood vessel wall in the brain. This weak spot causes a bulge or bubble on the vessel wall. To better explain, imagine a bicycle tire bulging in one spot prior to springing a leak and going flat. In most cases, aneurysms have no symptoms at all and the person will have no knowledge of the condition. However, in other cases, they may cause pressure on surrounding brain tissue, may leak, or may fully rupture. When this occurs, the blood on the brain causes the “worst headache of your life.” The rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is called a hemorrhagic stroke which is a serious medical event that often causes brain damage or death. The Mayo Clinic is a good resource for further reading about brain aneurysms. Because the outcome of a rupture is so severe, we support awareness and screening for this condition. To read about common procedures to repair a brain aneurysm, see our post.
Dr. Geoffrey Colby/UCLA Neurosurgery gives a detailed and excellent explanation of brain aneurysms in this video. Please take the time to view it. Brain Aneurysms: The Basics
