Beware of that headache

HEALTH

Aneurysm is dangerous and occurs when a blood vessel in the brain develops a bulge.

Sometimes it's good to not have a stock of Disprin in your medicine cabinet. Sometimes it's just lucky that you're rushed to a hospital for a throbbing headache instead of being suggested bedrest for a few hours.

For what may seem like an unbearable headache or simply the beginning of a migraine may actually be the sign of an artery about to burst in your brain.

Aneurysm, a lesser known, very dangerous condition occurs when a blood vessel or artery in the brain develops a bulge filled with blood. It most commonly occurs in the aorta (the main artery coming out of the heart) and resembles an over-inflated tube with a bulge. And it's not too difficult to understand that the larger the bulge or aneurysm becomes, the more likely it is to burst.

Aneurysms are mostly known to be caused due to the defective development of an artery. The shape, size, structure and location of the artery usually determine the defect. It is still being researched and determined if factors like hypertension, high or low blood pressure and diabetes can also lead to aneurysm.

The condition is usually signified by a throbbing, severe headache "" a kind that has not been experienced before. It may be accompanied by symptoms like loss of consciousness, vomiting and weakness.

Dr A K Singh, head of neurology at Fortis Hospital, explains, "We expect at least 100 aneurysm patients a month. And if this condition is not discovered and treated immediately, it can be tragic."

He suggests a CT scan for diagnosing the condition "" diagnosis being of extreme importance lest the artery burst. In cases where the artery bursts due to the growing aneurysm, 50 per cent of the people do not survive and those who do often have to live with disability.

Sometimes an aneurysm can even compress neighbouring structures like nerves, leading to other neurological problems like weakness and numbness. Surgery is the generally recommended treatment for aneurysm and is dependent on the nature of the aneurysm.

Nonetheless, the very existence of aneurysm in your brain is reason enough for alarm bells to ring. So, don't ignore a headache "" there may be more to it than meets your perception.