Vascular aneurysm with inflammation and bleeding

Dr. Moradi, a neurologist

An aneurysm occurs when an artery’s wall weakens and causes an abnormally large bulge. This bulge can rupture and cause internal bleeding. Although an aneurysm can occur in any part of your body, they’re most common in the: Brain, aorta, legs and spleen.

Aneurysm are a very serious condition. They occur when a blood-filled bulge forms on the wall of a weakened area in an artery. Aneurysms commonly occur in the abdomen and brain and if not treated can lead to serious health conditions. Stroke , coma and even death are some examples.The type of aneurysm treatment that you need depends on the severity of the aneurysm. It also depends on the cause.

What Causes an Aneurysm?

Although the exact cause of an aneurysm is unclear, certain factors contribute to the condition. For example, damaged tissue in the arteries can play a role. The arteries can be harmed by blockages, such as fatty deposits. These deposits can trigger the heart to pump harder than necessary to push blood past the fatty buildup. This stress can damage the arteries because of the increased pressure.

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atherosclerotic disease can also lead to an aneurysm. People with atherosclerotic disease have a form of plaque buildup in their arteries. This buildup is due to a hard substance called plaque that damages the arteries and prevents blood from flowing freely.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure may also cause an aneurysm. The force of your blood as it travels through your blood vessels is measured by how much pressure it places on your artery walls. If the pressure increases above a normal rate, it may enlarge or weaken the blood vessels.

Blood pressure for an adult is considered normal at or below 120/80 mm Hg, or millimeters of mercury. A significantly higher blood pressure can increase the risk for heart, blood vessel, and circulation problems. Higher than normal blood pressure doesn’t necessarily put you at risk for an aneurysm.

Are There Different Types of Aneurysms? 

An aneurysm may occur anywhere in your body, but the most common locations of aneurysms are:

Brain

Aneurysms in the brain can be any size. These often form in the blood vessels that lie deep within the brain. They also may not present any symptoms or signs. You may not even know you have an aneurysm. Aneurysms of this type may cause bleeding in as many as 3 percent of people.

Aorta 

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It begins at the left ventricle of the heart and travels down the abdomen where it splits off into both legs. The aorta is a common site for arterial aneurysms.

Aneurysms in the chest cavity are called thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are the most common type. In rare cases, both the chest and abdomen can be affected by arterial damage.

Other Areas

You can also have an aneurysm in the artery behind your knee, in your spleen, or in your intestines.

What Symptoms Should I Look For? 

Symptoms of an aneurysm vary with each type and location. It’s important to know that aneurysms that occur in the body or brain generally don’t present signs or symptoms until they rupture.

Aneurysms that occur near the surface of the body may show signs of swelling and pain. A large mass may also develop. The symptoms of ruptured aneurysms anywhere in the body can include:

  • bleeding
  • increased heart rate
  • pain
  • feeling dizzy or lightheaded

Serious complications from aneurysms can cause death if you don’t get emergency care.

Who Is at Risk for an Aneurysm? 

The type of aneurysm that can affect you depends on specific risk factors. Males are more likely to have aneurysms than females. People older than 60 are also at a higher risk. Other factors may include:

  • a diet high in fats and cholesterol
  • a family history of heart conditions, including heart disease and heart attack
  • smoking
  • obesity
  • pregnancy, which may make increase your risk of having an aneurysm of the spleen

How Is an Aneurysm Diagnosed?

The diagnostic tools used to find arterial damage often depend on the location of the problem. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist like a cardiothoracic or vascular surgeon.

CT scans and ultrasound methods are common tools used to diagnose or find blood vessel irregularities. CT scans use X-rays to examine the inside of your body. This allows your doctor to see the condition of the blood vessels, as well as any blockages, bulges, and weak spots that may be inside the blood vessels.

How Is an Aneurysm Treated?

Small aneurysms that are found early and aren’t causing symptoms may not need treatment. Other aneurysms need to be treated.

The goals of treatment may include:

  • Preventing the aneurysm from growing
  • Preventing or reversing damage to other body structures
  • Preventing or treating a rupture or dissection
  • Allowing you to continue doing your normal daily activities

Your doctor may recommend routine testing to make sure an aneurysm isn't getting bigger. This method usually is used for aneurysms that are smaller than 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) across.

How often you need testing (for example, every few months or every year) is based on the size of the aneurysm and how fast it's growing. The larger it is and the faster it's growing, the more often you may need to be checked.

Medicines

If you have an aortic aneurysm, your doctor may prescribe medicines before surgery or instead of surgery. Medicines are used to lower blood pressure, relax blood vessels, and lower the risk that the aneurysm will rupture (burst). Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are the medicines most commonly used.

Surgery

Your doctor may recommend surgery if your aneurysm is growing quickly or is at risk of rupture or dissection.

Aneurysm Surgical Procedures

The first one, is surgical clipping. This involves a small metal clip that is attached to the end of the aneurysm. This will stop blood flow to the aneurysm and also release some pressure. It is best for larger aneurysms.The other type of surgery is called endovascular coiling. This is a milder surgery that the clipping. A small tube is inserted into an artery and sends it through the body to the aneurysm. Next, a small wire is sent through the tube to the aneurysm. The wire coils in the aneurysm causing the blood flow to stop and the blood to clot. The clotting with close the aneurysm and stop it from growing.

Also, the aneurysm are more likely to rupture if you are a smoker, so quitting is highly important. Another aneurysm treatment is to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control. People that have high blood pressure and high cholesterol are more likely to get aneurysms. If you have good levels then you’re on the right track. If you levels are a little high, you should speak with your doctor about taking a pill that can help control your levels.