brain aneurysm & AVMs

Brain Aneurysm:

A brain aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. It often looks like a berry hanging on a stem. Aneurysms can leak or rupture, causing bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). This is a serious condition that can lead to brain damage or death.

Types of Brain Aneurysms:

• Saccular (Berry) Aneurysm: The most common type, shaped like a berry.
• Fusiform Aneurysm: Bulges out on all sides of a blood vessel.
• Dissecting Aneurysm: A tear in the wall of the artery leading to blood pooling between the layers of the vessel wall.

Symptoms:

Aneurysms that haven’t ruptured may be asymptomatic, but larger ones can cause:

• Headache
• Vision changes
• Eye pain
• Neck pain

If an aneurysm ruptures, symptoms can include:

• Sudden, severe headache (often described as the worst headache ever)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion

Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs):

An AVM is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which disrupts normal blood flow and oxygen circulation. AVMs can occur anywhere in the body but are particularly concerning when they occur in the brain.

Symptoms:

Many AVMs are asymptomatic until they rupture. Symptoms, if present, can include:

• Headache
• Seizures
• Muscle weakness or paralysis
• Loss of coordination (ataxia)
• Vision problems
• Speech difficulties
• Confusion or hallucinations

A ruptured AVM can cause:

• Sudden, severe headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Neurological deficits