Summer's wide blood pressure swings…a warning on the silent time bomb, ‘cerebral aneurysm’
Page information
Gangnam St. Peter's Hospital 26-06-26 09:59Main content
The ‘cerebral aneurysm’ is known as a silent time bomb, because although it usually causes no particular symptoms, the moment it ruptures it can lead to fatal cerebral hemorrhage. In summer especially, various risk factors widen swings in blood pressure, so experts say even greater care is needed.
A cerebral aneurysm is a state in which part of the wall of an artery inside the brain balloons out abnormally, like a balloon. The mechanism by which it develops has still not been clearly established, but the main cause is thought to be damage to the vessel wall and loss of elasticity as blood flow pressure is applied steadily to an already weakened wall.
It is most often found in people in their 40s to 60s, and by shape and cause it is classified as saccular, shaped like a pouch; fusiform, in which the artery is dilated all around; and dissecting, in which a hematoma forms between the inner and outer layers of the vessel wall.
With cerebral aneurysms, what matters above all is being diagnosed before rupture, because a cerebral hemorrhage caused by rupture is life-threatening. Professor SUH, Dae Chul of the Department of Neurointervention at St. Peter’s Hospital said, “At that point an extremely severe headache like a bolt of lightning appears together with nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck, and in severe cases the patient may experience seizures, reduced consciousness and even cardiac arrest,” adding, “The condition occurs in about 10 people per 100,000 each year, and it is so dangerous that one third of patients die immediately at the time of the hemorrhage.”
The problem is that most cerebral aneurysms give no clear symptoms before rupture. Experts therefore advise that anyone over 40 who has risk factors for cerebral aneurysm such as hypertension, a family history or a history of smoking should consult their doctor and undergo the detailed brain examination required.
Fortunately, if a cerebral aneurysm is found on detailed examination, appropriate treatment according to its condition can lower the risk of rupture. Whether to monitor it or to treat it actively with a procedure is decided according to the size and location of the aneurysm and the risk factors involved. Recently a variety of embolization procedures that reach the cerebral artery through the femoral artery in the groin without an incision have also been performed, considerably reducing the burden of surgery.
Professor SUH, Dae Chul explained, “Embolization, in which a device is inserted into the blood vessel to block the flow inside the aneurysm and lower the risk of rupture, has been advancing rapidly of late,” adding, “Among these, embolization using WEB (Woven EndoBridge), a mesh-shaped flow disruptor, is drawing attention as a treatment that makes up for the limitations of coil embolization.”
In summer, particular attention should be paid to blood pressure management and fluid intake, because intense heat, dehydration and abrupt temperature changes can all combine to affect blood pressure. Repeated exposure to these factors can widen swings in blood pressure and increase the burden placed on the blood vessels.
Professor SUH, Dae Chul urged, “What matters most with a cerebral aneurysm is managing it while it is still unruptured,” adding, “People at high risk who carry risk factors for cerebral aneurysm should measure their blood pressure morning and evening and refrain from outdoor activity on days when a heat wave is forecast.”
Source: Health Kyunghyang (https://www.k-health.com)
A cerebral aneurysm is a state in which part of the wall of an artery inside the brain balloons out abnormally, like a balloon. The mechanism by which it develops has still not been clearly established, but the main cause is thought to be damage to the vessel wall and loss of elasticity as blood flow pressure is applied steadily to an already weakened wall.
It is most often found in people in their 40s to 60s, and by shape and cause it is classified as saccular, shaped like a pouch; fusiform, in which the artery is dilated all around; and dissecting, in which a hematoma forms between the inner and outer layers of the vessel wall.
With cerebral aneurysms, what matters above all is being diagnosed before rupture, because a cerebral hemorrhage caused by rupture is life-threatening. Professor SUH, Dae Chul of the Department of Neurointervention at St. Peter’s Hospital said, “At that point an extremely severe headache like a bolt of lightning appears together with nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck, and in severe cases the patient may experience seizures, reduced consciousness and even cardiac arrest,” adding, “The condition occurs in about 10 people per 100,000 each year, and it is so dangerous that one third of patients die immediately at the time of the hemorrhage.”
The problem is that most cerebral aneurysms give no clear symptoms before rupture. Experts therefore advise that anyone over 40 who has risk factors for cerebral aneurysm such as hypertension, a family history or a history of smoking should consult their doctor and undergo the detailed brain examination required.
Fortunately, if a cerebral aneurysm is found on detailed examination, appropriate treatment according to its condition can lower the risk of rupture. Whether to monitor it or to treat it actively with a procedure is decided according to the size and location of the aneurysm and the risk factors involved. Recently a variety of embolization procedures that reach the cerebral artery through the femoral artery in the groin without an incision have also been performed, considerably reducing the burden of surgery.
Professor SUH, Dae Chul explained, “Embolization, in which a device is inserted into the blood vessel to block the flow inside the aneurysm and lower the risk of rupture, has been advancing rapidly of late,” adding, “Among these, embolization using WEB (Woven EndoBridge), a mesh-shaped flow disruptor, is drawing attention as a treatment that makes up for the limitations of coil embolization.”
In summer, particular attention should be paid to blood pressure management and fluid intake, because intense heat, dehydration and abrupt temperature changes can all combine to affect blood pressure. Repeated exposure to these factors can widen swings in blood pressure and increase the burden placed on the blood vessels.
Professor SUH, Dae Chul urged, “What matters most with a cerebral aneurysm is managing it while it is still unruptured,” adding, “People at high risk who carry risk factors for cerebral aneurysm should measure their blood pressure morning and evening and refrain from outdoor activity on days when a heat wave is forecast.”
Source: Health Kyunghyang (https://www.k-health.com)