Don't Ignore a Severe Headache!

Aneurysms, which can appear suddenly in people of all ages without any warning, can cause severe headache during the day along with nausea, vomiting, paralysis, and disturbances of vision, speech and balance. In brain aneurysms, which can lead to death when the bulges in the brain rupture, timely and correct intervention to diagnose and treat the bulges before they bleed is of great importance. We spoke with the specialists of the Neurosurgery Department of Hisar Hospital Intercontinental about the diagnostic and treatment methods for aneurysms that form in the brain..

Can Be Seen in People of All Ages

Aneurysms, which can result from the rupture of congenital bulges in the blood vessels at the base of the brain, are very rare, yet they occur after exertion during people's most productive years. In fact, an aneurysm is a congenital anomaly. They are hemorrhages into the space around the brain resulting from the tearing of blood vessels inside the head but outside the brain. The first sign of an aneurysm, which can show symptoms in 5 out of every 100,000 people and can lead to bleeding, is severe headache.

Keep Your Diabetes and Hypertension Under Control

One of the most dangerous consequences of aneurysms is that they can cause brain hemorrhage. Because it is an arterial rupture, a very high pressure suddenly forms inside the head. As intracranial pressure raises blood pressure, a very severe headache occurs in the person, and loss of consciousness can also be seen. Neck pain, nausea, vomiting, disturbances of vision and balance, and even loss of consciousness can also occur. This situation is most commonly seen at the junction of the vessels going to both anterior parts of the brain. When the bulge reaches 7 mm in diameter, it has entered the critical bleeding threshold. If, along with these symptoms, the person also has hypertension or diabetes, they must definitely consult a doctor and have the necessary tests done. By eliminating risk factors through regular check-ups, one can largely be protected from the brain hemorrhages that the disease may cause.

Not every headache means an aneurysm!

Today, aneurysms can be easily diagnosed with advanced technological devices. The diagnosis can be made easily by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital angiography. With advanced diagnostic methods, aneurysms that have not caused bleeding can also be easily detected without any invasive procedure such as angiography being performed on the body. After an aneurysm gives symptoms, early diagnosis is very important. Not every headache is caused by an aneurysm, and headaches resulting from an aneurysm should not be brushed off with painkillers. In particular, people who have suffered an aneurysm hemorrhage should not be allowed to walk or move about. Repeated hemorrhages within the first 24 hours can carry a high degree of life-threatening risk.

Treating Aneurysms Before They Bleed Is Vitally Important

There are two ways to treat aneurysms. The patient is placed under absolute bed rest in the intensive care unit, is evaluated by the neurosurgery department, and the decision on treatment of the disease is made. The neck of the bulge is closed by surgical intervention as soon as possible. The better the patient's condition after the first bleed, the better the outcome that can be achieved with surgery. The first 4 days after surgery are critical. The most feared complication of brain hemorrhages caused by aneurysms is the occurrence of a second brain hemorrhage. Satisfactory results can also be achieved with physical and psychological rehabilitation.

Aneurysm Treatment Is Determined According to the Patient's Condition

From the moment a bleeding aneurysm is detected in a patient, without losing time, certain treatment techniques are applied depending on the location and size of the aneurysm. The detected hemorrhage must definitely be treated as soon as possible by surgical or endovascular methods. In patients who undergo surgical treatment, the risk of bleeding is greatly reduced.

Surgical treatment: This is the most widely used and most definitive method for detected aneurysms. It involves cutting off the blood flow to the aneurysm with an aneurysm clip placed at the neck, where the aneurysm arises from the vessel.

Endovascular (intravascular) treatment: This is the procedure of closing blood flow inside the aneurysm by reaching the inside of the aneurysm through the vessel and filling it with an adhesive material or metal coils.

Take early precautions without ignoring the risk factors for your brain health!

Because the occurrence rate is very low, it is impossible to subject every individual to computed tomography and angiography. However, it may be recommended that people in risk groups in particular undergo screening. In people with a family history of aneurysm, slightly more aneurysms than normal may be detected. After treatment of an aneurysm hemorrhage, which can suddenly have a serious impact on people's lives during their most productive years, the person completes a normal life span if there is no vascular disease.