Aneurysm: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
An aneurysm is a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel that bulges outward. Many aneurysms cause no symptoms until they become large, leak, or rupture, which is why sudden symptoms can be an emergency.
🚨 Symptoms that can signal a ruptured aneurysm
Depending on where it occurs, warning symptoms may include:
- Sudden, extremely severe headache — often described as the worst headache of one’s life, particularly with a brain aneurysm.
- Sudden loss of consciousness or confusion
- Vomiting or severe nausea
- Neck stiffness
- Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side
- Difficulty speaking or seeing
- Sudden severe abdominal or back pain, which can occur with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Pale, clammy skin, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting, which can indicate internal bleeding and shock.
Some aneurysms cause symptoms before rupture
A brain aneurysm can sometimes cause pain behind or around the eye, vision changes, or a new unusual headache if it is pressing on nearby structures.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm may cause persistent or recurring abdominal, back, or side pain, or a pulsating sensation in the abdomen. Many, however, remain symptom-free.
⚠️ Don’t wait for symptoms
If someone suddenly develops an extremely severe headache, collapses, has new neurological symptoms, or develops sudden severe abdominal/back pain with faintness or weakness, call your local emergency service immediately. A ruptured aneurysm can be life-threatening within minutes.
Risk factors vary according to aneurysm type but can include smoking, high blood pressure, older age, family history, and certain inherited connective-tissue conditions.
Important: You generally cannot determine whether you have an aneurysm from symptoms alone. Some aneurysms are discovered incidentally or through screening in people at increased risk.
If you want, I can also explain the early warning signs of brain aneurysm vs. abdominal aortic aneurysm and how they differ.
