Understanding Aneurysm Stroke: Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis

A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a ruptured artery, or aneurysm, in the brain. Aneurysms can be caused by high blood pressure. A brain aneurysm is a ballooning of an artery in the brain. This weakens the artery until it ruptures.

Symptoms

• According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms of a stroke include a severe and unusual headache, and difficulty seeing, speaking and walking. Additional symptoms include paralysis and weakness or numbness on one side of the body.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose aneurysms, doctors often prescribe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or an x-ray angiography. Both procedures involve an injection into the blood vessels of a contrast solution that illuminates damaged tissue.

Treatment

• Treatment of a brain aneurysm typically requires surgery. In addition, the Mayo Clinic recommends a dose of aspirin in order to prevent an additional stroke attack.

Who's at Risk?

• Those over the age of 55 and those with a family history of stroke or heart attack are at higher risk for a brain aneurysm. Other risk factors are smoking, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Prevention

• Tips for preventing this condition include not smoking, exercising regularly, controlling blood pressure and keeping cholesterol in check.