what is a brain aneurysm

A brain aneurysm, also known as a cerebral aneurysm or intracranial aneurysm, is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. The aneurysm often looks like a berry hanging on a stem and can put pressure on the nerves or brain tissue. Experts think brain aneurysms form and grow because blood flowing through the blood vessel puts pressure on a weak area of the vessel wall, which can increase the size of the brain aneurysm. Most brain aneurysms are small and dont cause symptoms or health problems, and are found during tests for other conditions. However, if the brain aneurysm leaks or ruptures, it causes bleeding in the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke, which is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical treatment. Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm include a sudden, severe headache, a stiff neck, loss of consciousness, seizures, and more. Brain aneurysms are common and can develop when the walls of the arteries in the brain become thin and weaken, typically forming at branch points in arteries because these sections are the weakest. Some people may be born with a brain aneurysm due to an abnormality in an artery wall. Risk factors for developing a brain aneurysm include age, family history, smoking, alcohol use, drug abuse, and more.