A doctor has urged people not to ignore a headache that feels “different”, warning it could be caused by an aneurysm. This could then lead to a stroke, which can prove fatal in some cases.
In a video shared to social media platform, Doctor Sermed Mezher shared the signs of a brain aneurysm “that you shouldn’t ignore”. In around one in 10,000 cases these can rupture, leading to a stroke.
An aneurysm is described by the NHS as a “bulge” in a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall.
“As blood passes through the weakened blood vessel, the blood pressure causes a small area to bulge outwards like a balloon,” the health body says.
Aneurysms can develop in any blood vessel in the body, but the two most common places are the artery that transports blood away from the heart to the rest of the body and the brain.
Specifically referencing brain aneurysms, Dr Mezher explained: “Here are signs of a brain aneurysm that you shouldn’t ignore. This is important because in around one in 10,000 people per year, aneurysms rupture, which can lead to a stroke.”
According to the expert, the first sign to look for is a “thunderclap” headache. He detailed: “That’s a 10 out of 10 headache that people describe feels like they’ve been hit in the back of the head, but they turn around and there’s no one there.”
This sign is more commonly associated with a posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysm. The PCoA is found in the brain.
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He warned that other symptoms include:
- A new squint
- Double vision
- A droopy eyelid
- A dilated pupil on one side.
You may also experience a headache weeks prior to a ruptured aneurysm. He continued: “Now, a few weeks before rupture, sometimes people can get what’s called a sentinel headache, which is a warning sign that a rupture is about to happen.
“And that’s a new headache, that’s more severe and persistent than the usual sets of headaches that you might have.” Brain aneurysms may be more common than you realise.
Dr Mezher said they can affect one in 30 people “at some point in their lives”. Although these symptoms can be linked to other conditions, they should be checked out.
“The signs that I’ve mentioned can happen with other conditions as well, it’s just that they commonly occur in people who’ve had ruptured or leaking aneurysms,” he added. “But not all of the aneurysms that are found actually need to be treated. If they’re small, they can be monitored.
“It’s just that if they’re large then they have a higher risk of rupturing.” In the video caption, he added that certain factors can also raise your risk of a ruptured aneurysm.
Dr Mezher said: “The risk of rupture increases with the size of the aneurysm, high blood pressure, and other factors like smoking or a family history. That’s why early detection is critical.
“When aneurysms are found before they burst – often through imaging done for unrelated reasons – they can be monitored or treated with surgery or endovascular procedures to prevent rupture and significantly reduce the risk of severe outcomes.
“Awareness, timely screening in high-risk individuals, and good management of cardiovascular health are key to reducing the impact of this rare but serious condition.”