Aneurysm Signs and Symptoms

Pain in the head. When you are suffering from an aneurysm, this can be quite a common symptom. When an aneurysm in the brain has not been ruptured, it is small and may not trigger this symptom.

However, as it grows larger it exerts pressure upon the brain, or upon crucial nerves that reach out from the brain, and this can cause a local pain in the head, as well as other symptoms triggered by an aneurysm. If an aneurysm is not suffering a major rupture, but is instead, leaking small quantities of blood, it can trigger an intense pain in the head that comes on rather suddenly.

An unexplained dilation of the pupils. Under normal conditions, a pupil is supposed to dilate only in conditions of low light when it expands to let more light into the eye. An expanding aneurysm could well put pressure on different nerves that lead from the brain, and this, of course, includes the optic nerve. If you or someone you know suffers an unexplained dilation of the pupils, it must be considered as requiring immediate emergency care, as this symptom is a certain sign of serious issues that can affect the brain, such as, as tumors, or an aneurysm, or stroke.

A sudden sensitivity to light. If your eyes have suddenly become extremely sensitive to light, this could be a sign of a brain aneurysm. Be cautious in self-diagnosing, though, as other factors can cause this symptom as well. Among these other medical conditions are migraines, or even old age. A sudden light-sensitivity must be taken especially seriously if it is accompanied by a sudden and extremely intense headache. All these symptoms are caused by pressure exerted by an aneurysm on various nerves that lead from the brain.

Problems with the vision or seeing double. Of course, a loss of vision could indicate simply that… a loss of vision due to an environment and genetic factors. But you must not take a loss of vision too lightly, as it can sometimes be an indicator of a more serious condition. If it comes on suddenly, and especially if it is concentrated in one eye, you should consult a physician at the earliest. An aneurysm exerting pressure upon the optic nerve can lead to sudden, severe problems with the eyesight, or even result in a person seeing double.

Unconsciousness or a seizure. The increasing pressure of an aneurysm on the surrounding brain and the nerves thereof can cause a seizure, which is severely disorganized brain activity (generally electrical in nature). A seizure is unmistakable and can cause convulsive and exceedingly odd actions on the part of the individual, as brain cells are randomly excited or inhibited as a result of the seizure. While an aneurysm does cause the seizures, it can also equally well cause complete unconsciousness.

A rhythmic pulsation. This sort of rhythmic pulsation is a symptom of an aneurysm located in the abdominal aorta. A small aneurysm in this region will be all but unnoticeable and can be completely symptomless. However, as an aneurysm grows larger, the patient will feel a rhythmic pulsation in the region of an aneurysm. If an aneurysm is ruptured, this will be very noticeable, but even an unruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta can be located by touch, though it may otherwise be quite unnoticeable.

Unexplained pains in the back of the chest. If your chest suddenly beings to ache, and if you find this pain spreading into your back, this could be a symptom of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. You should be especially alert as an aneurysm of the aorta in the abdomen can cause quite a range of symptoms. Any strange sensation in this region, or a rhythmic feeling, should be taken extremely seriously.

Unexplained pains in the jaw, or below that, in the neck, or in the back. An aneurysm of the aorta that occurs in the upper chest is called a thoracic aneurysm. When an aneurysm is small there will be very few symptoms, but as it grows larger, you will experience not only pain but also sometimes a hoarse throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a tendency to cough. One symptom that is rarer than these is a sort of tingling sensation or even a pain in the center of the upper back.