Mark Swaim MD, Ph.D., shares that recovery from a brain aneurysm surgery depends from person to person and on what type of repair was administered. An essential factor to consider is if there was any bleeding into the brain before the surgery, or did the surgeon repair the aneurysm before any bleeding occurred? 

A person whose aneurysm has been detected and diagnosed by a doctor by way of a scan has the time to prepare for their surgery and recovery. The surgeon may then recommend one or the other of the two most common methods for repairing an aneurysm, which are clipping and coiling. 

Recovery scenarios

Mark Swaim MD, Ph.D., explains that for clipping, you may be in the hospital for four to six days. It may take you a month to six weeks before fully recovering. For coiling, you may be in the hospital for only one to two days, and with a faster recovery rate possibly happening within five to seven days. 

The following are the side effects that can be expected from either of the two types of repair. Do your best to prepare for them beforehand to help you through your recovery stage:

• Fatigue. Plan to have help at home. Take the doctor’s advice as to when you can return to your normal routine. Until then, Mark Swaim MD, Ph.D., suggests for you to stay in a calm and quiet place where you can have plenty of rest.
• Compromised coordination, vision, and balance. Enlist the help of someone to drive you home after the surgery and help you with routine tasks and chores at home. Plan to have someone drive for you to your doctor appointments until it is safe for you to venture out on your own again.
• Trouble with memory and confusion. Try not to engage in any important decision-making matters until you have fully recovered. 

Mark Swaim MD, Ph.D., points out that recovering from the procedure can be disorienting, tiring, and stressful, but a strong support system will ease the process. 

Mark Swaim, MD, PhD knows that those who have suffered a brain aneurysm once may be curious if they can suffer a second one. The answer, unfortunately, is yes, you can. Emilia Clarke, famous for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, is an example of the possibility of suffering more than one aneurysm.

But if you or someone you know has already had one brain aneurysm, what are the chances that another one may happen?

Increased Risk of a Second Aneurysm

According to certain studies, many risk factors can raise the chances for a second aneurysm. At least 20% of those who have suffered one aneurysm in the past are likely to suffer another one in the future. 

Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, says if the patient is a regular smoker, the risk increases further. Chances for another brain aneurysm also increases if the patient suffers from high blood pressure. This is why doctors will immediately and strongly recommend a lifestyle change to their high-risk patients.

Females and Increased Risk

Female patients are more likely to suffer aneurysms than males, with a ratio of 3:2 (female to male). The risk also increases in women who are older than 40-years-old. At 55 and above, females run a higher risk of a ruptured brain aneurysm than males, with as much as 1.5x the male risk.

Chances of Survival in Ruptured Aneurysms

Mark Swaim, MD, PhD says those who suffer a ruptured aneurysm have a 50% chance of surviving. However, 66% of those who survive a brain aneurysm rupture end up suffering from permanent neurological damage. 

To increase your chances of survival, see a neurologist immediately if you suffer from persistent headaches and pain behind the eyes. Follow your doctor’s orders when it comes to lifestyle changes you must make. Mark Swaim, MD, PhD says you should also keep all your follow-up appointments, especially if you are at an increased risk of aneurysm.

Mark Swaim MD, PhD, understands that there may be some confusion between a migraine or an aneurysm. While the two conditions have similar symptoms, there are key ways to tell one from another.

How Brain Aneurysms Happen

The human brain contains many small vessels that transport blood. If one of those vessel walls is weak, it can bulge out and form a small balloon filled with blood. 

This is called a brain aneurysm. You can have one for years without experiencing any symptoms or any problems. However, if it bursts, it can result in a very intense headache as well as other symptoms. You will also need emergency medical treatment because a burst aneurysm may lead to a fatal stroke.  

The Main Difference

Mark Swaim MD, PhD, says that a burst aneurysm can often produce a headache that feels like a thunderclap. The pain comes on very suddenly, and it’s very severe.

A migraine, however, tends to happen gradually. While it can also result in acute pain, it usually doesn’t occur all at once.

The intensity and suddenness of a brain aneurysm go together, as opposed to the gradual build-up of a migraine. This is how you can tell the two conditions apart. 

Other Aneurysm Symptoms

A seizure is another symptom that may show up with a burst aneurysm. Migraines don’t give you seizures. If you lose consciousness, that may also mean you have a ruptured brain aneurysm and not a migraine. 

Shared Symptoms

In rare cases, Mark Swaim MD PhD explains, you can have an aneurysm that is growing or larger than normal. It can push on the surrounding tissue or nerves and result in migraine-like symptoms such as: 

• Pain behind or above the eyes
• Numbness in the face
• Abnormal eye movements
• Headaches
• Vision changes
• Weakness

When an aneurysm leaks without fully bursting, this may also cause a headache. If you experience any of these symptoms, Mark Swaim MD PhD advises that you contact your doctor immediately.

Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, explains that a brain aneurysm occurs when a fragile spot in your brain’s arterial wall weakens and bulges. It is also known as a cerebral or intracranial aneurysm. It can be a life-threatening condition that can strike a person at any age. If a brain aneurysm ruptures, it may lead to brain damage, stroke, or death if not treated right away.

You can minimize the risk of getting a brain aneurysm by living a healthier lifestyle. Here are some tips:

Switch to a healthy diet

High blood pressure, obesity, and fatty deposits in the arteries all contribute to a greater risk of getting an aneurysm. Since all of these are connected to what you eat, Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, recommends you to choose whole, fresh foods over packaged and processed ones. Limit your fat intake. Eat fried and fast food sparingly. Be more aware of what you put into your body.

Control blood pressure levels

Hypertension increases your risk of aneurysm. Keep your blood pressure in check with a home monitoring kit. Make lifestyle changes such as switching to a low sodium diet, keeping a manageable weight, quitting smoking, managing stress levels, and exercising regularly. 

Keep cholesterol levels low 

High cholesterol can lead to the hardening of arteries. Lower bad cholesterol by limiting trans and saturated fats. Eat more food items rich in omega-3 fatty acids to promote good cholesterol. Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, advises that you increase your intake of fiber-rich foods since these can bind bad cholesterol and expel them before your body absorbs them. 

Exercise regularly

A consistent exercise routine raises the amount of good cholesterol in your body, lowers blood pressure, and helps you lose weight. Do a combination of aerobic routines such as running, swimming, or walking with strength-training activities to attain maximum benefit.

To sum it up, Mark Swaim, MD, PhD, says that the most significant thing you can do to prevent brain aneurysm is by making substantial changes to your eating habits and lifestyle.

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.

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