Types of Aneurysms

What is a brain aneurysm?

An aneurysm in the brain (also called a cerebral aneurysm or an intracranial aneurysm) is a bulging, weakened area in the middle layer of the wall of a blood vessel in the brain, resulting in an abnormal widening. An aneurysm may occur in any artery, but is often seen in arteries in the brain.

Although patients with aneurysms are born with a weakness in one or more spots of the arteries in the brain, it takes many years for aneurysms to grow. An aneurysm grows because the pounding of the blood in this weak spot expands the sac.

Symptoms and causes of a brain aneurysm

Symptoms that may occur with aneurysms in the brain, and their causes may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Type of Aneurysm	Causes of Brain Aneurysms	Symptoms Associated with Aneurysm
Brain Aneurysm (also called Cerebral Aneurysm or Intracranial Aneurysm)	congenital (present at birth) high blood pressure atherosclerosis bloodstream infections cigarette smoking	sudden severe headache nausea vomiting visual disturbance loss of consciousness facial pain numbness weakness paralysis double vision seizure