The #1 Way To Catch a Brain Aneurysm Before It Ruptures, According to a Cleveland Clinic Neurosurgeon

Emily Laurence

While brain aneurysms are rare, they still affect nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. each year, or about 6 percent of the population. Fifty percent of the time, ruptured brain aneurysms result in death.

Terrifying, right? This is why knowing what causes brain aneurysms and what their symptoms are is so important. In fact, there’s one way to catch an aneurysm before it ruptures. Knowing what it is could save your life.

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What Are Brain Aneurysms and What Causes Them?

Dr. Mark Bain, MD, a neurosurgeon at Cleveland Clinic, explains that aneurysms are the weakening of artery walls and that aneurysms can happen in any artery throughout the body. “What happens is, you get a little dilation or blow out the side of the artery,” he says. Dr. Bain says that brain aneurysms are particularly concerning because when they get to a certain size, they can rupture and bleed. This, he says, can damage the brain.

There are some people who are more at risk of experiencing brain aneurysms. According to scientific research, people who have hypertension, heart disease or diabetes are all at an increased risk. Dr. Bain says that genetics is another risk factor; if someone in your family has had a brain aneurysm, you are more likely to have one too.

Older adults are more likely to have a brain aneurysm than younger adults or children. This, Dr. Bain explains, is because of the accumulation of damage that can happen over time, such as decades spent smoking or living with hypertension—two risk factors for brain aneurysms.

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How To Catch a Brain Aneurysm Before It Ruptures, According to a Neurosurgeon

If a brain aneurysm doesn’t rupture, Dr. Bain says it may not cause any issues. Typically, he says, these aneurysms just need to be monitored over time through MRI imaging to ensure they aren’t changing or growing. It’s when a brain aneurysm does rupture that is a serious, life-threatening health risk.

Unfortunately, some people will experience a brain aneurysm with no warning symptoms at all. But Dr. Bain says there are some ways to catch an aneurysm before it ruptures. First, if you have a family history of aneurysms or are at increased risk for another reason (such as being a long-term smoker), Dr. Bain says you can be screened for aneurysms. “This involves a special type of MRI called an MRA,” Dr. Bain says. This stands for magnetic resonance angiography and Dr. Bain says this minimally invasive test looks at the blood vessels of the brain.

Although aneurysms are rare and it’s even more rare for one to rupture, Dr. Bain says these screenings can be beneficial for people who are at risk for brain aneurysms so that any aneurysms that are found can be monitored. If any grow bigger or change over time, it can be removed before it ruptures.

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Sometimes, Dr. Bain says, a patient will see a doctor because they’ve been experiencing headaches, often accompanied by changes in vision or dizziness. “A lot of times aneurysms don’t cause these symptoms, but it's found incidentally because a person gets an MRI and the physician sees an aneurysm,” Dr. Bain says. The takeaway here: If you are experiencing headaches, don’t just pop some medication and dismiss it. See your doctor.

When a brain aneurysm does rupture, the most common sign is a sudden, intense headache. Sometimes, it’s accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If this is something you ever encounter, it’s important to call 911 immediately. Once at the hospital and after stabilizing the patient, Dr. Bain says the next part of treatment involves placing a drain in the brain to get rid of excess fluid and reduce pressure in the brain. Sometimes, treatment also involves surgery, which involves clipping the base of the aneurysm and pinching it off.

While brain aneurysms are certainly fear-inducing, Dr. Bain reiterates that they’re rare. If you are at risk, see your healthcare provider and ask about being screened for aneurysms. Most importantly, if anything feels “off,” see your doctor about it. “A lot of times, patients will come to their doctor with a vague health problem like a headache or visual disturbance and their doctor will find an aneurysm through a test like an MRI or CAT scan,” Dr. Bain says.

Even if something seems minor, it’s worth a second opinion. Sometimes, the most important warning signs are easy to miss.

Next up, here's what to eat for breakfast if you want to support memory health.

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