Ohio State Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones died this week in Cleveland from a brain aneurtsm that ruptured while she was driving. She was taken to the Cleveland Clinic and was unable to recover. She was only 58 years old.
Brain aneurysms are little balloon type 'pockets' that are found in the arteries. Many are in the brain but can also be found around the heart or in the legs or other areas of the body.
It is thought that about 4% of people have aneurysms (based on autopsy statistics) which is pretty staggering. Most people don't even know they have an aneurysm and live with it. Unless it ruptures, they can live to be 100 and die of other causes. Aneurysms themselves are not fatal but if they rupture, they can be - and death can be fast. About 10% of people who have an aneurysm will experience a rupture.
WebMD has a question and answer session with Howard Kirshner, MD, professor and chairman of neurology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. I thought I'd put it here, to educate us a little more about this mysterious but scary condition -
"What is a brain aneurysm?
"An [unruptured] aneurysm looks kind of like a balloon, an out-pouching of an artery," Kirshner says. "It almost always occurs at a point where the artery branches off."
While Tubbs Jones had a cerebral, or brain aneurysm; aneurysms can also occur in the aorta (the major artery from the heart), the leg, and other areas. Aneurysms are related to weaknesses in the blood vessel wall.
How common is a brain aneurysm?
''We think that many people have them -- up to 4% have it at autopsy," Kirshner says, citing research, but many show no symptoms. According to Kirshner, about 5% of people will develop a brain aneurysm during their lifetime, but only about 10% of them will experience a rupture.
As a crude estimate, he says, perhaps 25,000 to 50,000 people a year in the U.S. have a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm. Family history plays a role, experts believe. Family members of a patient with a brain aneurysm have an increased risk of having one. Yet only a small percentage of these are related to hereditary syndromes associated with aneurysms.
Women are more likely than men to have an aneurysm, and African-Americans have more risk of hemorrhage from an aneurysm than do whites.
What are the symptoms that an aneurysm has ruptured?
Aneurysms often go undetected because they can have no symptoms until they rupture and bleed. When that happens, it can cause a sudden severe headache and sometimes nothing more than that, Kirshner says. "But it is usually not like any other headache you've had. It is very sudden or severe, the worst headache of your life." Other symptoms include severe neck pain, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light.
One-third to nearly half of patients have minor hemorrhages or "warning leaks" that later lead to a severe devastating brain hemorrhage days later.
Sometimes, when an aneurysm ruptures, it can go unnoticed, with the person passing off the headache. But once it ruptures, Kirshner says, it is more likely to re-bleed.
Is there a typical age bracket for aneurysms to rupture?
"They are most common in middle age -- the 40s and 50s are the peak ages," he says. But they can happen at any age. "I've seen them in teenagers. They do occasionally occur in elderly people."
What can someone do to reduce the risk of an aneurysm growing and rupturing?
"Not smoking and treating hypertension prevent aneurysms from growing and rupturing," Kirshner says.
In general, what is the outlook for someone whose brain aneurysm bursts?
The prognosis, Kirshner says, "is very uncertain." A ruptured aneurysm can cause sudden death, he says. In general, "if you are in bad shape right in the beginning, the odds of recovery are much lower." The overall death rate once the aneurysm ruptures is about 40%, he says.
What might be done when the rupture is discovered?
Getting treatment as soon as possible is critical, he says. If it's possible to do surgery, one option is to go in surgically and put a clip across the aneurysm to stop bleeding. "An even more common surgery is to go through the artery and deploy a coil [into the aneurysm, using a tiny catheter] and the coil causes the aneurysm to shut off." The coil causes a clot to form around the sac, sealing off the aneurysm defect."
http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20080821/aneurysms-common-sometimes-dead...
If anyone has anything to add or had their own experience, I'd love to hear it!
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Add a Comment96 Comments
3 weeks ago my father died of Brain Aneurysms. He was 56 yrs old. It was so sudden that me, my siblings and my mother are having a hard time moving on. 6 yrs ago he found out about it, he was working abroad then. He collapsed and was brought to the hospital. He was in a coma for 3 days. I'm not sure if he undergone Endovascular coiling after that. But I remember him telling me on the phone about the catheter passing into the his groin. After 2 yrs he resigned from work abroad and retired in our province. Still in medical therapy. I used to buy Plavix medicine for him. During the last 6 years, he was just a normal happy person. He would just take his medicine if he felt something unusual in his head.
It was 1am when he died. He was in his bed ready to sleep. After a few minutes, he shouted and keep rolling in the bed. I think, base on my research he was having a seizure then. He keep telling my brother it hurts so bad. He sweats a lot and had a pale face. He was brought to the hospital but declared dead on arrival and 5mins brain dead already.
My father always watch what he eats so I think he is quite healthy expect for the smoking. He smokes a lot even after the first encounter and was advise by the doctor to stop it. Normal blood pressure and no hypertension.
I miss my father =(
November 17, 2011 - 1:00amThis Comment
Very suddenly a couple days ago while driving to work I became very dizzy, weak, naseus & felt extream pain & pressure in my neck, head, above & behind my eyes & sensitivity to light. It continued all day so I went to ER. Dr took vitals, did physical exam & said I was fine. Symptoms stayed the same so I went back to Dr 48 hrs later. Again, Dr took vitals, did physical exasm & ran full blood work. Told me they would contact me if results were weird, otherwise follow-up appointment in a month. It has now been 5 days & my symptoms are the same. I have tried more sleep, more food, less physical activity, less stress (haven't gone to work) & heat...nothing helps. My maturnal grandmother had 3 brain aneurysm. I have been a smoker for about 15 years. Should I be concerned?
August 27, 2011 - 7:47pmThis Comment
Thank you for posting such important information. I never knew there were warning signs for an aneurysm, such as a sudden sever headache, and I did not know they were more common in middle age.
August 15, 2011 - 10:00amThis Comment
My father has a aorta aneurysm and when he went in to have in measured which it's now 4.2, they found out that he has 2 more on the brain, one on the left side, size 3 and one on tbe right side, size 6 which is intertwined into the arteries in the brain, hard to get to because of location and was told it wasn't worth the risk to operate at this point, only if it gets bigger and they have no other choice. Are his odds still the same as far as people living with these thigs for years without them busting. He quit smoking and any kind of drinking right after he found out about the 2 on the brain.
August 11, 2011 - 6:24amThis Comment
hi my name is samantha on the 11th of july 2011 was the worst day of my life my dad was rushed in to hospital with a aneurysm in the brian
July 14, 2011 - 6:52pmme and my familey was told my dad might not make it through the night we never new he had it nither did he he was bleeding very bad on the brian thay took my dad down to the therter room and done a opt on him thay said he was doing fine but thay didnt no if he was going to come out like a his normal self or like a person that didnt no wot life was that couldnt walk talk or no any think or any of his familey i thank god to day that my dad pulled throw this he is in the best hospital in london and thay saved my dads life he is now up and talking but has some menroy lose but is getting better and shud be out in a couple of weeks he is not to some any more but thats ok he said he wont and has very high surgar levels some im thanking god he is still here with us today and on the 11th july my dad was 48 and he didnt no i will never for get that day for the rest of my life im so sorry for any 1 that has gone through this and im so sorry for any 1s familey that has past my prays are with u all many thanks samantha please give me ur comments back will be very happy to here them
This Comment
Hi I have a brain anuerysm found out in december 2010. I am still undergoing tests, doing psyhiotherapy for the dizziness and balance issues, seeing a neurologist for the migraines. I have recently been told it is behind the right eye, I do suffer from light sensitive but I am also an epileptic who is light sensitive. I think the hardest thing was telling my children. I remain positive and strong and enjoy each day for what it is. Take care all and God Bless
March 26, 2011 - 11:04pmThis Comment
I actually lost two sisters in 6 weeks to aneurysms, 52 and 54 yrs old its so scary and sad. they were both in comas they did not come out of..life support , on ehad surgery but still didnt make it, it so sucksssss right now,
June 4, 2010 - 9:47pmThis Comment
JTarrant1200,
Oh my. You have my deepest sympathies on the loss of your sisters. To lose any beloved family member is devastating, and you have lost two. I'm so very sorry.
How long ago did you lose your sisters, JTarrant? Have you or are you being checked out?
June 7, 2010 - 8:53amThis Comment
what happens if your in a deep coma
June 4, 2010 - 9:32pmThis Comment
My Fiance,love of my life for 9yrs,died suddenly of a brain anuerysm,Sept.25,09.He was fine one minute,laughing,joking,said he felt dizzy,had to sit down,He took 2 steps and fell to the floor.I tried CPR,but he did not make it even before the ambulance arrived.I wish I had known more about this.Maybe I could have done something sooner.Are there support groups for this type of sudden death?He was 36.
November 24, 2009 - 11:30amThis Comment