Brain Aneurysm Symptoms

The initial symptom of a brain aneurysm may be a sudden, severe, catastrophic headache.

Most people will not be aware that they have an aneurysm in the brain until the aneurysm ruptures, causing the severe headache. For the majority of people, symptoms do not come directly from the aneurysm, but rather from the following:

• Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm 
  
  
  • Severe headache
    
    
    • If you have a history of headaches, such as migraine or tension headaches, you may experience a headache uniquely different from your normal pattern.
      
      
    • You should consider any severe headache different from your customary headache as suspicious for a ruptured aneurysm. You may experience the worst headache of your life, which may also be a sign of a stroke.
      
      
    • Up to 50% of people with a ruptured aneurysm will suffer a warning (prodromal) headache several days or even weeks before the rupture. The average is about 2 weeks.
      
      
    • This warning headache is thought to be due to minor blood leakage, without rupture of the aneurysm, and is commonly referred to as a "sentinel headache."
    
    
  • Neck stiffness
    
    
  • Nausea
    
    
  • Vomiting
    
    
  • Sensitivity to light
  
  
• These symptoms may be followed rapidly by an alteration in mental status ranging from confusion to coma.
  
  
• Seizures occur in about 25% of people with a ruptured aneurysm.
  
  
• Some people will have symptoms of an enlarging, unruptured aneurysm.
  
  
  • A dilated pupil in 1 eye
    
    
  • Visual field defects: This refers to the inability to see objects that are in the direction you are looking. For instance, if you are looking directly at a large screen TV, you may not be able to see the whole screen at once. There may be a "hole" in the center or off to the sides that you simply cannot see while looking straight ahead.
    
    
  • Inability to move 1 eye in all directions
    
    
  • Pain above or behind the eye
    
    
  • Pain in the temple, in the back of the skull, or the neck, depending on the location of the aneurysm

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