Aneurysms: Types and Treatments
An aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel, and is relatively common within the American population - although some types appear more frequently than others. There are three different types of aneurysms: abdominal aortic, thoracic aortic, and cerebral aneurysms. Cerebral aneurysms, also known as brain aneurysms, is by far the most common type of aneurysm, with an estimated 1 in 50 Americans affected by it. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are the second most common and occur in the portion of the aorta that carries blood away from the heart. Finally, there are thoracic aortic aneurysms that occur in the portion of the aorta that goes through the abdomen.
While aneurysms can be harmless and even go unnoticed for large periods of time, the greatest danger is the possibility of leakage or a rupture. These unruptured aneurysms are detected incidentally, during tests that are done for other reasons. For a brain aneurysm, a rupture causes excessive bleeding in the brain, otherwise known as a hemorrhagic stroke. It is extremely dangerous and can be life-threatening - it accounts for about 25,000 deaths each year in the United States. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, a very severe headache, described as the worst one ever, is one of the common symptoms. Others can be losing consciousness, seizures, weakness of body parts, vision problems and more.
Both abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms are also in danger of rupturing, as rise in blood pressure within the arteries can cause the site of aneurysm to leak. Furthermore, the rupturing of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is often mistaken for a heart attack as they cause similar symptoms: chest pain, sharp abdominal and back pain, difficulty breathing as well as weakness on the left side of your body. Thoracic aortic aneurysms can also cause similar symptoms prior to rupturing. As all three types of aneurysms do not always cause overt symptoms prior to rupturing, the only way to diagnose the presence of an aneurysm is through various medical imaging tests, such as a CT or MRI scan, or an angiography. Additionally, even if detected prior to rupturing, there is no guarantee that the aneurysm can even be operated on or removed in surgery. This is extremely dependent on the size and location of the aneurysm. Specifically, if an aneurysm is found to be less than about 5 cm, there is a low risk of rupture and thus preventative surgery may cause more harm than good, especially in older patients who experience higher risks during operations.
However, if the aneurysm is larger than 5 cm, the risk of rupturing is far greater and doctors will likely encourage surgery in order to remove it. If an aneurysm ruptures, early treatment is needed owing to the serious risks and complications that can arise and it improves the outcome. While some people are more genetically predisposed to developing aneurysms than others, high blood pressure as well as obesity and smoking can be linked to the development of aneurysms - at least partially. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy diet and regular exercise are recommended as ways to deter the rupturing of an aneurysm.
References:
https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/heart-and-vascular-blog/2018/june/types-of-aneurysms
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16742-aorta-aortic-aneurysm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20361483
https://med.virginia.edu/neurosurgery/services/stroke-and-cerebrovascular/aneurysms/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20361483
