What Is a Brain Aneurysm?
Aneurysm Symptoms Head Pain A brain aneurysm: is a weak or thin spot on a blood vessel in the brain that bulges out and fills with blood. Over time, a bulging aneurysm can expand due to the blood flow, and it may put the patient’s life at serious risk.
Most brain aneurysms often develop without any symptoms, until they get big enough or burst. Once an aneurysm ruptures, it can cause bleeding into the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke. The results can be severe health problems at a sudden onset—or worse—death without treatment.
One of the most concerning signs of an aneurysm rupturing is head pain. Many individuals seek information about aneurysm symptoms head pain because it can originate quickly, is very intense, and could be an unlike typical headache. It may be described as “the worst headache of your life.” Some other symptoms may accompany pain such as, nausea, stiff neck, blurred vision, or loss of consciousness.
Learning what a brain aneurysm is—and how it could cause head pain—is the first step to recognizing warning signs, so you can seek care before a potential rupture. (Aneurysm Symptoms Head Pain)
How Aneurysms Cause Head Pain
Has symptoms of aneurysm head pain can happen when a blood vessel in the brain is weakened and bulging outward, putting pressure on the adjacent area in the brain and nerves. This pressure can cause discomfort or sharp pain even if it has not ruptured.
In some instances, if a brain aneurysm does not rupture, the blood vessel can irritate the nearby areas of the brain or nerves and can create a mild to moderate figure of head pain. However, if the aneurysm ruptures, it is likely that it will be the worst head pain. A ruptured brain aneurysm will produce sudden severe headache that is typically described as the worst headache of your life. The pain will usually start off immediate, sharp, and severe.
Head pain from an aneurysm may come with additional symptoms like blurred vision, nausea, stiff neck, and light sensitivity. The head pain from an aneurysm may also vary in severity depending on the size, leaking state or ruptured status of the aneurysm.
In order to identify the early warning signs, it is important to understand the way that aneurysms can produce head pain. Early recognition and medical attention may save your life, especially in the presence of serious aneurysm symptoms head pain. (Aneurysm Symptoms Head Pain)
Early Aneurysm Symptoms to Watch For
It can be important to recognize the early symptoms of a brain aneurysm, especially if it becomes life-saving. While some aneurysms are silent until they rupture, many others will offer warning signs not to be missed. One of the most common early symptoms of an aneurysm is head pain that is different from a regular headache.
This head pain can be sudden, unusually severe, and greater than usual. It can be behind or around one eye or feel like it’s a deep pressure in the head, and in some cases it may get worse over time, and can keep you from relieving it with over-the-counter medication.
Additional early signs may include:
- Blurred or double vision
- A drooping eyelid
- Light sensitivity
- Neck stiffness or pain
- Nausea and vomiting, with no apparent cause
- Difficulty with concentration or sense of fogginess
If you are experiencing one or more of these signs, especially with unusual or extreme head pain, seek medical evaluation immediately. The sooner the aneurysm is diagnosed, the more effective treatment can be.
Again, all head pain is not indicative of an aneurysm, but knowledge of the aneurysm symptoms head pain connection can let you react positively – and possibly save your life.
Characteristics of Aneurysm-Related Head Pain
Recognizing the signs of aneurysm symptoms head pain is an important step to identify a serious (and potentially deadly) situation. The head pain symptoms associated with a brain aneurysm is usually different than a regular headache or migraine.
What the Pain Feels Like
Typically, a headache related to an aneurysm is characterized as a sudden and severe headache that has no prior warning. Most people refer to this head pain as the “worst headache of their life”. The headache is often intense and peaks usually within seconds or minutes.
Duration & Location of Pain
The pain may be constant and unyielding, as opposed to throbbing like a migraine. It usually is felt over the entire head, but could be felt worse on the back of the head or behind the eyes. This event may last until the individual can get medical treatment; this is especially true with a ruptured aneurysm.
Additional Symptoms
This head pain is often accompanied with additional symptoms including:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lights sensitivity
- Blurred or double vision
- Altered level of consciousness
- Stiff neck
- Seizures
if you or someone you know has an extreme, sudden headache that matches these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately! Early recognition of these signs can save a life!
Aneurysm Symptoms vs. Migraine or Regular Headache
Head pain can be a challenge to distinguish between a typical headache, a migraine, or something more ominous like an aneurysm. However, knowing how to differentiate between the signs and symptoms of the two types of head pain related to an aneurysm may save your life.
Sudden and Intense Onset
Perhaps the largest distinguishing factor is in the way the pain starts. Aneurysm head pain appears suddenly and intensely, often referred to as “the worst headache of my life.” Contrast this with migraines and tension headaches, which tend to develop more gradually over time.
Location and Quality of Pain
Migraines often affect one side of the head and are accompanied by neurological symptoms consistent with perceptions including nausea or sensitivity, or by ringing in the ears. Aneurysm-related head pain will rarely display any specific side or location and may exhibit different pain qualities (i.e. sharp, caustic/ explosive pressure) associated with neck stiffness, blurry vision, or loss of consciousness.
Other Warning Symptoms
In addition to the headache, other symptoms of an aneurysm include:
- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
- Seizures
- Droopy eyelid or facial weakness
- Sudden nausea or vomiting
Trust Your Instincts
If your head pain is atypical, especially if it is sudden, intense, and accompanies other neurological symptoms, do not assume it is simply a migraine. Get medical assistance immediately to rule out a brain aneurysm. ( Aneurysm Symptoms Head Pain)
When to See a Doctor
If you are experiencing strange or severe head pain, it is essential to know when to seek medical help. In some cases, symptoms of aneurysm head pain can represent a medical emergency that needs prompt intervention.
You should go to a doctor immediately, if you experience any of the following:
-Sudden, severe headache that is often described as “the worst headache of my life.”
-Head pain that comes on suddenly and very quickly, without warning.
-Head pain that is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, or neck stiffness.
-Confusion or loss of consciousness.
-Seizures or difficulty speaking.
These may all be symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm, which can lead to serious medical emergencies. Even if your aneurysm hasn’t ruptured yet, but you’ve experienced new and unusual head pain persistent with any of the above symptoms, you should understand that this is a red flag that something could be wrong. Your doctor will know how to examine you and conduct tests such as CT scan or MRI to discover the problem and whether or not you need to worry.
Do not ignore strange or severe head pain. Being vigilant about aneurysm symptoms head pain could be the difference in avoiding serious complications or saving your life. (Aneurysm Symptoms Head Pain)
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
In the event that you suspect you may have an aneurysm or are experiencing symptoms of an aneurysm – most importantly head pain – timely evaluation by a physician is extremely important. Most medical professionals will attempt to evaluate a potential brain aneurysm with some type of imaging tests. The most common imaging tests are CT scan, MRI, and cerebral angiography which show the size, shape, and position of an aneurysm.
After being diagnosed with an aneurysm, your treatment options depend on the severity of the aneurysm, if it has ruptured, and your overall health. For most patients, treatment options range from monitoring the small, unruptured aneurysm to surgical treatment for those with large or high risk aneurysms. Surgical treatment for an aneurysm includes clipping, placing a metal clip at the base of the aneurysm to block blood flow, or endovascular coiling, where coils are introduced through a catheter to allow clotting to occur to avoid a rupture.
Recognizing the symptoms of aneurysm head pain and receiving appropriate diagnosis and treatment could prevent life threatening complications and potentially improve patient outcomes. Consult your doctor if you suspect you have an aneurysm or seek medical care for severe, sudden head pain, or other concerning signs and symptoms. (Aneurysm Symptoms Head Pain)
Conclusion
Understanding early symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm particularly head pain, can be life-saving. Many headaches can be harmless, but sudden, severe or unusual head pain that can be accompanied by other warning signs should never be taken lightly. A fast medical appraisal, diagnosis and treatment can potentially spare you adverse effects that can develop from delaying access to medical care. If you notice anything that may be of concern, seek medical attention so that you can be assured your health and safety is a priority! Your awareness and education is the beginning of protecting yourself from the risk of a brain aneurysm. (Aneurysm Symptoms Head Pain)
