Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, recommends that you think of aneurysms as weak spots in your blood vessels. 

Those weak spots would give in to the pressure of the blood flow, and would then bulge out. Because of the weakened condition of the vessel wall when it bulges, there is a risk of the aneurysm rupturing.

Those are facts regarding aneurysms. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of myths regarding them. Here are some of the common myths about aneurysms and the truth behind them:

It’s Just a Matter of Time

Most people believe that an aneurysm is a time bomb and that it’s just a matter of time before it bursts. The truth, says Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, is that aneurysms rarely rapture, compared to the total number of cases. According to estimates, there are 6 million people with a brain aneurysm, and only 1% of those have ruptured.

It Happens Suddenly

Some people believe that a brain aneurysm can happen all of a sudden and strike without warning. The truth is that it takes quite a while to develop an aneurysm that is prone to rupture. A patient may have been born with a preexisting condition that makes the aneurysm grow. In which case, it will take a while for the aneurysm to develop.

It’s a Death Sentence

People believe that a ruptured brain aneurysm is a death sentence. The truth is that 60% of those who suffer from it survive. Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, says that’s the good news. The bad news is that survivors can suffer some form of neurological damage, which can vary in intensity.

There’s No Cure for Aneurysm

It is commonly believed that there is no cure for a brain aneurysm, which is the most serious of all forms of aneurysms. That’s not true, however. The problem is that many cases are not detected. Patients only learn about their condition when the aneurysms burst, which is too late for the treatment.

Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, hopes that by shedding light on the truth behind these myths, people will be better able to cope with aneurysms.