The expert has said the red flag might be hard to spot – but being aware of it could potentially end up saving your life
People might have a silent killer lurking in their heads without knowing how to spot the signs. If left unmanaged, it could potentially turn fatal.
Dr Baibing Chen, a neurologist who goes by Dr Bing online, claimed that there is a very subtle signal that you could have a brain aneurysm without knowing. It may be hard to notice – especially if you have other symptoms that make it even harder for yourself or a doctor to spot.
He shared the story of a patient who had complained to doctors for the third time in “just a few weeks” of a migraine which “felt different.” The woman claimed this pain “lasted longer” and her usual remedies were not doing anything to help.
On her first two visits to the doctor, she had nausea and light sensitivity. But, the third visit had doctors figuring out the real problem.
Dr Bing explained that she had a “fixed dilated pupil and drooping of her right eyelid.” While droopy eyelids are not uncommon in different types of headaches, the pupil issue led the experts to one cause – an undetected aneurysm.
According to the NHS, an aneurysm is formed by “a bulge in a blood vessel” and often happens when there is a weakness in the blood vessel wall. As blood passes through the weakened vessel, the pressure causes a small area to balloon out.
Aneurysms can develop in any blood vessel in the body, but the most common places are the brain and the artery that transports blood away from the heart to the rest of the body (called the abdominal aorta).
Most brain aneurysms go undetected until a serious problem occurs. The NHS website states that most aneurysms only cause noticeable symptoms “if they burst.”
This leads to an extremely serious condition known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage. This is when bleeding caused by the ruptured aneurysm can cause extensive brain damage.
Catching an unruptured brain aneurysm early should help you manage the situation to avoid any fatal outcome. However, spotting the signs can be hard without knowing them. According to the NHS, you should take action if you notice:
- visual disturbances, such as loss of vision or double vision
- pain above or around your eye
- numbness or weakness on one side of your face
- difficulty speaking
- headaches
- loss of balance
- difficulty concentrating or problems with short-term memory
Having any of these common symptoms alone might not mean you have a brain aneurysm, but it is best to raise the question with your doctor to perform checks where necessary. It can be helpful to keep track of persistent symptoms, such as headaches or memory problems, you might not be able to provide evidence at an appointment otherwise.
It isn’t clear what specifically causes the conditions for brain aneurysms to form. The best way to prevent getting an aneurysm, or reduce the risk of an aneurysm growing bigger and possibly rupturing, is to avoid activities that could damage your blood vessels.
This includes smoking, eating a high-fat diet, not controlling high blood pressure or being overweight/obese. Brain aneurysms can develop in anyone at any age, but are more common in women and people over the age of 40.
If you think someone has had a brain haemorrhage, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. It’s a very serious condition and can be fatal.