When part of a blood vessel (artery) or cardiac chamber swells up – it causes damage in the blood vessel or even a weakness in the blood vessel’s wall. The blood pressure builds up, and if the swelling is large, it usually extends along the blood vessel. This is an aneurysm – if it grows it can cause rupture, which leads to hemorrhage, which in turn leads to many complications.

An aneurysm can happen in any part of the body, but they usually occur on the wall of the aorta. Aneurysms can be of two types – aortic aneurysm (which occurs in the aorta, it can be abdominal, or thoracic), and cerebral aneurysm (which occurs in an artery of the brain). Aneurysms can happen to anyone, though people over 65 years of age (especially men) are more prone to it.

The symptoms of a cerebral aneurysm are nausea, confusion, stiff neck, sudden severe headache, seizures, etc. The symptoms of an aortic aneurysm are a throbbing pain in the abdominal area, and back pain.  If you suspect that you have an aneurysm, do visit a doctor immediately, who will do the necessary tests and confirm if you have it.