M.R.A Brain scan to check the condition of the brain's blood vessels

Cerebral Aneurysm

A cerebral aneurysm is a common neurological condition and a significant problem because it can occur in normal people of all genders and ages, but it is mostly found in people aged 40 – 60 years. Women are slightly more affected than men. A cerebral aneurysm is often detected when it ruptures, which can be fatal with a mortality rate of about 50%, 25% will suffer disabilities, and only 25% can recover fully. However, if a cerebral aneurysm is detected before it ruptures, the mortality rate is only 2 – 3%, 7% will have disabilities, and more than 90% can recover fully. Thus, diagnosing and treating a cerebral aneurysm before it ruptures can significantly reduce mortality and disability rates.

Causes of the disease

A cerebral aneurysm occurs when a wall of any artery weakens. It is believed that this can happen due to congenital abnormalities of the blood vessel wall or from subsequent abnormalities due to constant pressure on the vessel wall, making it abnormal and then bulging out as a saccular outpouching.

The risk of rupture in a cerebral aneurysm depends on

• The size and location of the aneurysm
• The shape of the bulging vessel
• The age and gender of the patient
• The health and family history of the patient

Risk factors

1. Smoking
2. High blood pressure
3. Regularly consuming a lot of alcohol
4. High blood cholesterol levels
5. Taking birth control pills regularly

Warning signs

• Usually, there are no symptoms before rupture
• In cases where symptoms are present, the most common ones include
  1. Severe headache like never before experienced or feeling like the head is going to explode, sometimes accompanied by vomiting
  2. Ptosis, seeing double, or sudden cross-eye with no findings by an ophthalmologist

Screening for vascular risk throughout the body

The best prevention for a cerebral aneurysm is to undergo Total Body Vascular screening by a specialist to detect cerebral aneurysms before they rupture. Especially important for those who:

1. Have a first-degree relative (father, mother, sibling, or child) who has had a brain hemorrhage, and have another first or second-degree relative (grandparents, uncles, aunts, or cousins) who has also had a brain hemorrhage.
2. People with polycystic kidney disease.
3. People who have had a brain hemorrhage and have been treated for it.
4. People aged 40 – 60 years who have risk factors for the disease.