Sometimes the phrase “stroke” and “aneurysm” are used interchangeably, but there are significant differences between these two serious disorders.
Aneurysms result is bodily bulges that may rupture or burst leading to bleeding eventually. They can affect any organ, including the heart and brain.
A stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or when the blood flow to the brain is blocked. An aneurysm is caused by a compromised arterial wall.
What are the signs and symptoms of aneurysm and stroke?
Both a burst aneurysm and stroke can happen quickly and with no warning. The signs will be different. Whether you are having a burst aneurysm and a stroke will also affect what kind of emergency care you should get.
No matter what caused the symptoms, you must act quickly.
The major signs and symptoms of an aneurysm:
- Changes in the vision
- Headaches
- Balance loss
- Problems in concentrating and focussing
- Both sides of the body feel weak or numb
- Pain around the eye area
- Trouble in speaking
If you know that you have an aneurysm and start having symptoms, you should see a doctor right away. The symptoms could be a sign that the aneurysm is about to burst, which could lead to serious complications. Reach out to an Interventional Radiologist in Coimbatore, to understand your treatment options for aneurysm.
The symptoms that indicate a stroke:
- Difficulty in moving one or both aneurysms.
- Trouble in speaking or slurred speech
- Loss of senses in one or both sides.
- Difficulty in understanding others
- Difficulty in walking
- Severe headache
- Sudden vision issues
- Balance loss
Stroke vs. aneurysm symptoms:
If an aneurysm hasn’t burst yet, there usually aren’t any signs.
A hemorrhagic stroke can be caused by a burst aneurysm. A thunderclap headache is a key sign of a hemorrhagic stroke. If you have an ischemic stroke, you can also get a headache. But the most obvious signs are weakness and paralysis on one side, trouble speaking, and loss of feeling in the face and upper arm or paralysis of the face.
What are the two major types of stroke?
Ischemic Stroke:
Ischemic strokes happen most often; about 87 percent of all strokes are caused by them. It happens when a blood vessel in the brain or one that brings blood to the brain gets clogged. The blockage could be a blood clot or plaque that has built up in the artery.
Hemorrhagic stroke:
A blockage in an artery is not the cause of a hemorrhagic stroke. It’s a bleed that happens when an artery breaks. Either no blood flows through that artery at all or less blood flows through it because blood leaks out of the new hole in the artery wall.
This type of hemorrhagic strokes are generally caused by brain aneurysm.
What are the risk factors of aneurysms and stroke?
Many of the same things can cause strokes and aneurysm:
- If you don’t take care of your high blood pressure, you are more likely to have a stroke or an aneurysm
- Because it hurts your blood vessels, smoking is also a major risk factor for aneurysms and stroke.
- You are also most likely to have a cerebrovascular event if you have an aneurysm or stroke before.
- Women are a little more likely than men to have a stroke or a cerebral aneurysm.
- Increase in age also increases the risk of both aneurysm and stroke.
- Family history with any of these conditions.
What are the diagnostic procedures for identifying aneurysms and stroke?
Discussing your symptoms and medical history with the doctor will aid in the formation of a diagnosis and course of treatment.
MRI and CT scans can aid in the diagnosis of aneurysms and strokes. A CT scan reveals the location of brain hemorrhage and parts of the brain with impaired blood flow. The MRI is able to produce detailed images of the brain. In some instances, your physician may order an MRI, a CT scan, and other imaging procedures.Speak with your doctor to understand the stroke and brain aneurysm surgery cost to have better understanding.
What types of strokes are caused by aneurysms?
Aneurysms can break and bleed into the space between the brain and the skull or sometimes into the brain tissue (intracerebral hemorrhage). These are examples of what is known as a hemorrhagic stroke.
What are the treatment options to manage aneurysms and stroke?
Your doctor will figure out the best way to treat you based on how bad the stroke or aneurysm was and what you already know about your health.
Ieschmic stroke:
If you had an ischemic stroke and went to the hospital within a few hours of the first signs, you might get a drug to break up a blood clot. A clot in a blood vessel can also be taken out by your doctor.
Hemorrhagic stroke:
If you have a hemorrhagic stroke, you might need surgery to fix the blood vessel that is broken. Your doctor might use a special clip to fix the broken part of a blood vessel. During open surgery, where they cut into your head and work on the artery from the outside, they can do this.
Cerebral aneurysm:
If you have a small aneurysm that hasn’t burst, your doctor may give you medicine and tell you to wait and see what happens. This means that they keep taking pictures of the aneurysm to make sure it hasn’t gotten bigger. If it has, you may need Endovascular Coiling Treatment to fix it.
Understanding the outlook of stroke and aneurysm:
Any kind of stroke or a burst brain aneurysm needs emergency care because both can kill. A doctor may also suggest surgery for an aneurysm that is likely to burst or keep an aneurysm that is low risk under close watch. You can always reach out to a brain aneurysm surgery in Coimbatore if you are facing aneurysm issues.
The outcome of a stroke or a burst aneurysm depends on how bad it is, how quickly the person gets treatment, their age, and other factors.
It can take weeks or months to get better, and a person may still have problems after getting better. Rehabilitation can help a person stay independent and do their daily tasks, but some people will need full-time help for a long time.