About 3% of us will develop a brain aneurysm in our lives. So what is it and how do you treat it?

Kyle Sandilands, the host of Australian radio, announced yesterday that he has a brain aneurysm And requires urgent brain surgery.

Usually, the aneurysm occurs when part of the artery wall (type of blood vessel) is pulled out and conquered.

You can get a aneurysm In any blood vesselBut most often they occur in the arteries of the brain and aorta, a enormous artery that leaves the heart.

Many people may have a brain aneurysm and never know. But cerebral aneurysm (or aorta) that breaks and cracks can be fatal.

What causes brain aneurysm? And what is the risk of cracking?

Weakness of the artery wall

Our arteries need mighty walls, because the blood is constantly pumped by them and pushed against the walls.

Some aneurysm It can develop if there is a delicate part of the artery wall.

The arterial walls are made of three layers: the inner lining of the cells, the middle layer of muscles and elastic fibers, and the strenuous outer layer of collagen (type of protein). Damage to each of these layers means that the wall becomes skinny and stretches. Then maybe a balloon outside, leading to an aneurysm.

Genetics AND Some inherited disorders It can cause delicate arterial walls and cerebral aneurysm in some people.

For all of us, our arterial walls become weaker as aging, and cerebral aneurysms are more common as aging. . average age for a brain aneurysm Detection is 50 (sandilands is 53).

Women have a greater risk of brain aneurysm than men After about 50 years. Falling estrogen around menopause reduces collagen in the artery wall, making it weaker.

High blood pressure can raise the risk of brain aneurysm. For someone with high blood pressure, the blood inside the arteries is pushed against the walls with greater force. Maybe stretch and weaken the artery walls.

Other Joint condition called atherosclerosis can also cause brain aneurysm. In arterial atherosclerosis, mainly from fat accumulate in the arteries and stick to the walls of the arteries. This directly damages the cell lining and weakens the muscle and elastic fibers in the middle layer of the artery wall.

Several lifestyle factors raise the risk

Everything that increases inflammation or causes atherosclerosis or high blood pressure, in turn, increases the risk of brain aneurysm.

Smoking and heavy drinking influence all of them and nicotine Directly damage Artery wall.

Sandilands mentioned its use of cocaine discussing his diagnosis. He said:

The facts are that the life of cocaine abuse and partying is not a good solution.

Indeed, cocaine abuse increases the risk of brain aneurysm. It causes very high blood pressure because it causes the arteries to be cramps and narrowing. The utilize of cocaine is also related to worse results If the brain’s aneurysm breaks.

Stress ia High -fat diet Also raise inflammation. High cholesterol It can also cause atherosclerosis. AND overweight Increases blood pressure.

Test Over 60,000 people said that smoking and high blood pressure were the strongest risk factors of the brain aneurysm.

Is it always a sudden medical accident?

ABOUT three out of 100 people will have a brain aneurysm, different from size less than 5 mm to over 25 mm diameter. Most are only discovered when imagining something different (for example, a head injury), because compact aneurysms may not cause any symptoms.

Larger aneurysms can cause symptoms because they can Press on the brain tissues and nerves.

Sandilands described “Many problems with the headache“Only for his diagnosis. Headaches can be caused Small blood leaks from the aneurysm. They indicate the risk of breaking the aneurysm in the following days or weeks.

Less than One in 100 brain will breakOften called “brain bleeding”. It causes Patenoid hemorrhageSo it is type of stroke.

If this happens, the brain’s fracture is life -threatening: Almost one in four people will die within 24 hours, and one in two in three months.

If someone’s aneurysm breaks, they usually experience a sudden, severe headache, often described as “Thunderclap headache“. They can also Other symptoms of stroke such as vision changes, loss of movement, nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness.

The operation can prevent cracking

Whether the surgery will be used to treat the brain aneurysm depends on its size and location, as well as the patient’s age and health. The medical team will balance potential benefits with the risk of surgery.

Usually there will be a low low aneurysm with a low risk of cracking Just be monitored.

However, after reaching the brain’s aneurysm 7 mm or moreGenerally, surgery is needed.

IN brain aneurysm repair surgeryThe surgeon will temporarily remove a compact part of the skull, and then cut the brain covering to place a compact metal clip to close the bulging part of the aneurysm.

Another option is intravascular (Meaning in a vessel) Connecting. The surgeon can transfer the catheter to the femoral artery in the thigh, through the aorta to the brain. Then they can place the coil inside the aneurysm, which creates a clotic to close the arterial sack.

After both operationsUsually a person will stay in the hospital for a period of up to a week. It may take 6-8 weeks In order to fully recover, although doctors can continue monitoring with annual imaging tests for a few years later.

You can reduce the risk of brain aneurysm It does not smoke by moderating alcohol consumption, nutrition of a vigorous diet, regular exercise and maintaining a vigorous weight.