Symptoms of brain aneurysms

Key warning signs and differences between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms.

A brain aneurysm typically doesn’t cause symptoms until it’s very large or it ruptures.

Ruptured Brain Aneurysm

Aneurysm rupture is a serious and dramatic event that is very noticeable. Commonly there is a severe headache, neck, pain, and sensitivity to light, which may be accompanied by loss of consciousness and patients are usually immediately brought to the hospital for further investigation and treatment.

Rarely, however, aneurysm rupture can produce less noticeable symptoms although typically, there is still a severe headache. If you have any concerns you should immediately contact emergency medical services, especially if you’re known to have a brain aneurysm.

Unruptured Brain Aneurysm

In rare instances unruptured aneurysms symptoms might include:

• Pain above and behind an eye.
• Dilated pupil.
• Vision changes (e.g., double vision).
• Facial numbness.