Medical Questions » Brain Questions » Question No. 160
| Question: | My father died recently and very suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Can you explain this for me? |
| Answer: | At a point where an artery wall is weakened, the blood pressure will gradually stretch the artery to form a small balloon. This is an aneurysm.
These can occur anywhere in the body, but are most common in the brain. This weakness may have been present since birth, may be due to hardening of the arteries with age or high cholesterol levels, or may be caused by high blood pressure.
If the balloon bursts, large amounts of blood will flood into the brain, causing severe damage and possibly death. The actual effects will depend on the area of the brain involved, and a small aneurysm bursting may mimic a stroke.
If an aneurysm is discovered, the only effective treatment is an operation to remove it. |
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