The Dangers of an Aneurysm: Are Headaches Stress or Something More Dangerous

Everyone suffers from an occasional headache that is normally easy to alleviate by taking an over the counter pain reliever, but when the nagging pain sticks around for days, weeks, or even for months, and the strongest of medicines doesn't even begin to touch the pain, then there is definitely something more than stress going on, and the advice of a health care professional should be on your list of things to do.

Headaches can often be the first sign of something more serious going on, and if left untreated they can eventually lead to a more serious illness or even death. One of the most common causes of a lasting severe headache that hangs on is from a aneurysm, which is a is a weak bulge in the blood vessel in the brain, and left untreated, it can break open and bleed into the brain, leading to a stroke or death.

Aneurysms have occurred in approximately 2,000,000 people in the United States, and the most common symptom of an aneurysm is a severe headache, however each person may be affected in a different way when an aneurysm is involved. A few major tip-offs that something is medically wrong can include a localized headache, nausea, vomiting, neck pain, blurred or double vision, pain above or behind the eyes, seizures, dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, and loss of sensation.

An aneurysm occurs when the pressure of blood passing through part of a weakened artery forces the vessel to bulge outward. Not all aneurysms are life-threatening, but if the bulging stretches the artery too far, this vessel may burst, causing a person to bleed to death. An aneurysm that bleeds into the brain can lead to stroke or death.

Risk Factors of Developing an Aneurysm

Any condition that causes the walls of the arteries to weaken can lead to an aneurysm.

Genetics: A person with a family history of aneurysm is twice as likely themselves to get one.

High Blood Pressure: People with hypertension are at a much greater risk of getting an aneurysm.

Women: Females are twice as likely to develop a brain aneurysm hemorrhage as men.

Heart Attack: This could possibly damage an artery, leading to an aneurysm later on.

Injuries: Deep wounds, injuries, or infections of the blood vessels.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Unfortunately an unruptured brain aneurysm usually shows little to no signs of the pending dangers that may lie ahead, but once it has ruptured it will usually cause a sudden mind boggling headache that leaves the strongest of people weak in the knees. Loss of appetite, restlessness, and raw pain should be enough reason for you to seek medical attention. Under the care of a physician you will be subjected to a CT scan of your head that will reveal the presence of a suspected aneurysm and, if it has burst, show whether blood has leaked into your brain. Small aneurysms are often left alone if they are not causing any physical problems, but larger aneurysms or one that has bursted open requires surgery.

**Aortic aneurysms may cause shortness of breath, a croaky or raspy voice, backache, or pain in your left shoulder or between your shoulder blades.

Famous People Who Have Died or Suffered From an Aneurysm

Pop singer Laura Branigan died from a brain aneurysm in 2004 at the young age of 47. The singer had been complaining about a severe headache for weeks to her family, but made no attempt to seek medical attention. The singer was best known for her hit "Gloria," which earned her a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocalist.

Teri Garr is recovering from surgery to repair an aneurysm she suffered at her home on Dec. 21, 2006. Garr has appeared in dozens of films and television shows, including "Friends," "Young Frankenstein" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Neil Young was treated for a brain aneurysm in 2005. The aneurysm was discovered when Young's vision became blurry after attending the induction ceremonies for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. An examination by a neurologist detected the aneurysm and surgery was performed on the veteran rocker.

Lucille Ball died on April 26, 1989 from an aortic aneurysm.

Albert Einstein died of a ruptured aneurysm in a New Jersey hospital on April 18, 1955, and when Einstein's aneurysm ruptured there was little that could be done except to wrap it with cellophane in the hope that the inflammation and scarring that resulted would prevent bleeding. Unfortunately there was no saving the genius.

Country legend Conway Twitty died on June 5, 1993, from an abdominal aneurysm.

Roy Rogers, the king of cowboys survived a ruptured aneurysm.

Martial arts movie star Bruce Lee is thought to have died from a ruptured aneurysm.