Headaches are a common complaint and are generally harmless. However, a very severe headache that comes on suddenly should be a cause for concern, especially if it feels different from your usual headaches.
One serious condition that can cause sudden, severe headaches is a ruptured brain aneurysm . This condition can cause bleeding around the brain and requires immediate medical attention.
What Is a Brain Aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a bulge or widening in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain that occurs due to a weakness in the wall of the blood vessel.
Unruptured aneurysms sometimes cause no symptoms, so a person may not even notice them. However, when an aneurysm ruptures, blood can leak into the surrounding brain, causing serious complications.
Who Usually Gets a Brain Aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm can happen to anyone. However, several factors can increase the risk, including:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Smoking habit
- Family history of brain aneurysm
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Certain conditions or diseases that can affect blood vessels
- Having had certain injuries or infections that affect the blood vessels, although this condition is less common
The risk can increase if a person has several risk factors at once, for example uncontrolled hypertension accompanied by a smoking habit.
However, aneurysms can also be found in people without clear risk factors . Therefore, having risk factors doesn't necessarily mean someone will develop an aneurysm, and conversely, someone without risk factors can still develop one.
What are the symptoms of a ruptured cerebral blood vessel?
One of the most characteristic symptoms is a sudden, severe headache . The headache can feel very severe and different from the headaches you usually experience.
Other symptoms that may accompany include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neck feels stiff
- Sensitive to light
- Visual disturbances
- Impaired consciousness or difficulty waking up
- Seizures
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking
If a severe headache occurs suddenly, especially if it's accompanied by these symptoms, don't wait for it to improve on its own. Seek medical attention immediately.
How Are Brain Aneurysms Diagnosed?
To determine the condition of the brain's blood vessels, doctors may recommend imaging tests depending on the patient's condition and symptoms. These tests can help detect aneurysms and bleeding in the brain.
In certain conditions, doctors can confirm the diagnosis through Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography or Cerebral DSA, which is a minimally invasive procedure performed using a diagnostic catheter through the blood vessels to identify problems in the brain's blood vessels.
Furthermore, after the diagnosis is confirmed through Cerebral DSA, one of the methods that can be used to treat certain aneurysms is coiling .
What is Coiling?
Coiling is a minimally invasive procedure to treat aneurysms. This involves inserting a catheter through a blood vessel to the aneurysm site. The doctor then places a special coil inside the aneurysm to help block blood flow to the aneurysm sac, reducing the risk of bleeding.
Not all aneurysms require the same procedures. The type of examination and treatment will be determined by the doctor based on the location, size, and shape of the aneurysm, the patient's condition, and other factors.
When Should You Go to the Hospital Immediately?
Don't ignore a sudden, severe headache , especially if it's the worst you've ever had or is accompanied by:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stiff neck
- Seizures
- Visual disturbances
- Weakness or numbness in the limbs
- Difficulty speaking
- Decreased or impaired consciousness
These symptoms can be a sign of a brain emergency and require immediate medical evaluation and treatment.
EMC friends, don't underestimate a sudden, severe headache. Recognize the symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if you experience any concerning signs. The sooner the condition is identified and treated, the greater the chance of preventing more serious complications.
This article was written by Dr. Nezzar Erraldin, Sp.N (Neurology Specialist at EMC Cibitung & Pekayon Hospital).