What it is
Smoking, high blood pressure and a family history increase the risk, as does polycystic kidney disease.
An unruptured aneurysm may simply be monitored, or treated to prevent it bursting, usually by coiling through a blood vessel or by surgical clipping. Stopping smoking and controlling blood pressure are important.
Common signs
- Usually no symptoms if it has not burst
- Rarely, vision problems or pain above the eye from pressure
- If it bursts: a sudden, extremely severe headache, stiff neck, being sick, sensitivity to light
How it is usually diagnosed
- MRI or CT angiogram
- Catheter angiogram in some cases
- For a burst aneurysm: CT scan, sometimes a lumbar puncture
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Scan reports with the size and location of the aneurysm
- Neurosurgery letters
- The schedule for monitoring scans
- Blood pressure readings
Questions to ask your doctor
- How large is it, and what is the risk of it bursting?
- Should it be treated or monitored?
- Should my family be screened?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- A sudden, extremely severe headache, often described as the worst ever: call 112
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.