Brain Aneurysm - Remembering my friend Mr. Freeze

My friend who just passed away a few days ago...

What is a brain aneurysm?

A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In most cases, a brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed. In rare cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a stroke.

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, the result is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, brain damage or death may result.

The most common location for brain aneurysms is in the network of blood vessels at the base of the brain called the circle of Willis.

What causes a brain aneurysm?

A person may inherit the tendency to form aneurysms, or aneurysms may develop because of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and aging. Some risk factors that can lead to brain aneurysms can be controlled, and others can't. The following risk factors may increase your risk of developing an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, may increase your risk of it rupturing:1 * Family history. People who have a family history of brain aneurysms are twice as likely to have an aneurysm as those who don't. * Previous aneurysm. About 20% of patients with brain aneurysms have more than one. * Gender. Women are twice as likely to develop a brain aneurysm or to suffer a subarachnoid hemorrhage as men. * Race. African Americans have twice as many subarachnoid hemorrhages as whites. * Hypertension. The risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage is greater in people with a history of high blood pressure (hypertension). * Smoking. In addition to being a cause of hypertension, the use of cigarettes may greatly increase the chances of a brain aneurysm rupturing.

(Source: http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/brain-aneurysm-topic-overview )

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