An aneurysm, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's online medical library called MedlinePlus, is an "abnormal widening or ballooning of a section of a blood vessel." When a portion of the blood vessel becomes weakened, possibly by injury or damage due to another medical condition, the pressure of the blood flowing through the vessel causes the balloon-like projection of the vessel wall. There are several symptoms of brain aneurysms that can aid in diagnosis of this condition.
Intact Aneurysm
When an aneurysm remains intact, it may still cause various symptoms due to the pressure the widened portion of the blood vessel exerts on the brain. The exact symptoms depend on exactly where the aneurysm is exerting pressure. MedlinePlus reports that possible symptoms may include vision disturbances, such as doubled vision or blindness; a person may also experience headaches, and pain in the eye and neck.
Leaking Aneurysm
The Mayo Clinic reports that an aneurysm may leak blood into the surrounding brain tissue, if it is not fully ruptured. The only symptom of a leaking aneurysm, according to the Mayo Clinic, is the rapid onset of a very severe headache. The leaking of blood almost always leads to a rupture.
Ruptured Aneurysm
A ruptured aneurysm is a very serious condition that may be fatal. Merck Manuals, another online medical library, reports that the first symptom of a ruptured aneurysm in about half the people with this condition is a really severe headache. However, they note that older people with brain aneurysms may experience no headache, or only a mild one. There are several other symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm detailed by Merck Manuals and the Mayo Clinic that include loss of vision or other vision disturbances, such as abnormally small or large pupils; eyes that point in different directions; a droopy eyelid and extreme sensitivity to light. According to Merck Manuals, a person may experience muscle weakness, paralysis, or numbness, which often affects only one side of the body. Mayo Clinic adds that other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness.
