Brain aneurysms practically go unnoticed and tend to have few to no symptoms until the rare occasion when the aneurysm ruptures. The bursting aneurysm causes bleeding in the brain and then often leads to a stroke. This is exactly what happened to my great-aunt Judy who survived a brain aneurysm and stroke.
Brain aneurysms can also be referred to as cerebral aneurysms or intracranial aneurysms (IA). A brain aneurysm is formed when there is a bulging spot on the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. As time passes, the blood flow within the artery begins to pound against the thinned portion of the wall. The aneurysm begins to form from the wear and tear on the artery. As the artery wall becomes thinner from the pounding, the blood causes the already weakened wall to swell outward. This built up pressure may cause the artery to break and allow blood to leak into the brain. There are two main
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types of brain aneurysms; saccular aneurysm and fusiform aneurysm. Saccular aneurysms and more common than fusiform aneurysms. Aneurysms have a variety of causes including; high blood pressure, blunt trauma, abnormal blood flow to the brain, family history of aneurysms, previous aneurysms, and if a person smokes. Women are at a higher risk of having a cerebral aneurysm. Many symptoms go unnoticed until an artery rupture occurs. Some symptoms include; a sudden headache, severe neck pain, abnormal sensitivity to light, sudden blurred vision, and a sudden difficulty speaking. The prognosis for a patient that has suffered from a brain aneurysm depends on if the artery ruptures and causes blood to leak into the brain. Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal 40% of the time. If a patient does survive a ruptured brain aneurysm then there is a 66% chance they will suffer from a neurologic deficit. Approximately 15% of the patients with a ruptured brain aneurysm die before reaching the hospital. Brain aneurysms often go unnoticed unless a patient undergoes brain imaging such as getting an MRI.
In most cases the brain aneurysm is an incidental finding. If the brain aneurysm is found by a doctor it is important for the patient to consult a neurosurgeon to determine if further action needs to take place. Brain aneurysms often occur in people between the ages of 35-60 but can also occur in young children as well. Aneurysms are most common after the age of 40. A speech-language pathologist would have a role in therapy after a patient has had a brain aneurysm. A speech-language pathologist might help with memory and thinking as well as helping a patient relearn how to say words. A speech therapist might also do a swallow study on a patient. There are several speech therapy techniques including; giving the beginning of the sound of the word to trigger memory, and working on simple day-to-day conversation skills. There are other members who will be included in the patient’s recovery including physical therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, and
nurses. Brain Aneurysms can be either congenital or acquired. An infant can be born with an abnormality in an artery wall which could cause a brain aneurysm to occur. A cerebral aneurysm can also be acquired and could be caused by many factors. If a family member happens to have an artery rupture it can impact the family emotionally, professionally, academically, socially, and financially. When my great-aunt Judy had a brain aneurysm it impacted not only her but her whole family. Judy had to have help doing almost everything. She had to re-learn nearly everything from talking to walking. Judy’s husband was a huge help in her recovery process. She refers to her husband as “my hero” several times throughout the books. Judy’s family was impacted by the unfortunate situation but they picked up the pieces and learned how to deal with it. The odds were not in my great-aunt’s favor with a 10% chance of surviving. She mentions in the book that she used to take life for granted and how her perspective has changed since the incident. Judy Coble lives every day to the fullest even though she has is challenged with some day-to-day activities. I might be a tad biased when I say this but I absolutely loved reading all three books. I say that I am biased because the author is my great-aunt. I remember my mom getting the phone call from my grandma saying that Aunt Judy had been airlifted to Cox South Hospital in Missouri. I was 13 at the time and had no idea what a brain aneurysm was or the seriousness of it. I enjoyed reading the books from her perspective. Initially Judy could not speak or write. Immediately following the brain injury Judy communicated by blinking her eyes. She had to re-learn how to speak, write, and walk. I have so much respect for my great-aunt because she never gave up hope. She put all of her faith in God and she said many times in the book how lucky she was to be alive. I also enjoyed reading these books because Judy not only talked about the good days but also the frustrating days during her recovery process. Judy also wrote about how she accepted what had happened. This did take a lot of time but she now accepts who she is. The brain aneurysm affected the left side of her body making it very weak. Judy now refers to her weak side of the body as her “Betty side.” I enjoyed reading about how she renamed her left side of the body because it shows that the aneurysm affected her life but she doesn’t let it control her life. I would recommend these books. They provide informative information about the seriousness of a cerebral aneurysm and the challenges associated with the recovery process. My understanding of aneurysms and their potentially life threatening and debilitating impact was limited prior to reading Judy Coble’s books. Brain aneurysms can have horrible outcomes and my family is very lucky to still have Judy Coble around.
If something happens to interrupt the flow of blood, brain cells start to die within minutes because they can’t get oxygen. This is called a stroke. Sudden bleeding in the brain also can cause a stroke if it damages brain cells. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
The brain is a complicated organ, containing an estimated 100 billion neurons and around 1,000 to 10,000 synapses for each of those neurons (1). This organ has the great responsibility of not only controlling and regulating the functions of the body but also sensing and perceiving the world around it. In humans, it is what we believe makes us the highly adaptive and intelligent organisms that we are, as well as give us our individuality. But with so many parts and connections to it, what happens when the brain's delicate circuitry is disrupted? We've all heard of brain damage, and its horrible results, whether is a news report on TV or science books. It seems that with trauma, disruption of blood supply, and disease; neurons and their connections could be destroyed and the organism's behavior exceedingly affected. Yet I've read about how people have overcome tremendous damage to their brains and gone on to function with very minimal handicaps.
Due to the lose in brain cells sometime facial nerve can become damage. Which is also a sign of a stroke. In stroke patient usually when ask to smile, only half of their facial muscle would be able to do so. While the other half remain drooped. The Circulatory system is affect as well. Remember in a Hemorrhagic stroke a ruptured blood vessel begins to bleed out into the brain. Once blood is secreted out side the blood vessel into the tissues, red blood cells will take away nutrient from the brain cells. In Ischemic, the blockage in the blood vessel does not allow the blood to circulated proper. As a result of lost blood supply brain cells will die in the area where it is not receiving nourishment. Traveling in our bloodstream is oxygen and glucose, which is constantly need for cells to preform they daily functions.
There are three main types of strokes: ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and transient ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes occur due to an obstruction or clotting of a blood vessel or artery. There are two types of ischemic strokes: embolic and thrombotic strokes. An embolic stroke is when a blood clot or other substance forms in the body, travels through the blood stream, and eventually becomes lodged in a small blood vessel or artery supplying blood to the brain. A thrombotic stroke is when a blockage forms in one or more arteries to the brain. The second type of stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, is due to a rupture of a weakened blood vessel. There are two major ways in which blood vessels can weaken: aneurysm, a ballooning of a weak area in a blood vessel, and arteriovenous malformations (AVM), an abnormal connection of arteries to veins. A hemorrhagic stroke can either be an intraccerebral stroke, a bleed caused by a blood vessel within the brain, or a subarachnoid stroke, an aneurysm rupture in a large artery near the membrane surrounding the brain. Lastly, transient ischemic attacks are temporary traveling clots that cause “miniature” or “warning” strokes.
A serious brain injury could lead to bleeding in or around your brain, causing symptoms that may develop right away or later.
An essential aspect of a neurosurgeon's role is to accurately handle the documentation of data related to their patients' treatment. This data includes treatment programs and schedules, medication plans, diagnosis details, and any other analysis information related to their patients' health. Regular interaction with patients is also crucial for neurosurgeons. Supporting patients in medical decisions and informing them of all possible risks, effects, delays, results, and outcomes of their surgery is perhaps the most important responsibility a neurosurgeon can undertake. The physician must be able to discuss the patient's course of action clearly and precisely with someone they are comfortable with to ensure the best recovery.
It is caused by clot that blocks blood vessels from supplying blood to the brain through cerebrovascular events. If there is no blood in the brain, then there is no oxygen or nutrients because it is blood that supplies it to the brain. This can cause permanent brain damage which can cause inflammation. Fasting has there been known to be effective and efficient against stroke because it increases cognitive functioning and health of the brain. In addition, fasting has been known to increase neuro-protective proteins and reduction in inflammatory substance known as cytokines. This is critical reducing the chances of damaging the brain that can cause
Strokes are not only the leading cause of mentally disabling adults, but they are also the third most common reason for deaths worldwide (Jarvis, 2012). In general, a stroke, also called a “cerebrovascular accident,” occurs when blood flow of the vascular system is blocked from reaching parts of the brain (Jarvis, 2012). There are two types of stroke, an ischemic stroke or a hemorrhagic stroke, and they differ in the way they affect the vascular system. An ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, accounting for 80 percent of all strokes, and it is due to a thrombus or embolus blocking blood vessels supplying the brain (Durukan & Tatlisumak, 2007). A hemorrhagic stroke is less common, but is caused by the rupturing of a blood vessel in the brain and causes bleeding (Jarvis, 2012).
Neil. (2003, October 1). Triple-H therapy in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. The Lancet Neurology, 2(10), 614-620. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(03)00531-3
Head injuries are very serious and dangerous. Some head injuries can cause neurological brain damage. They are commonly found in the sports world, putting athletes at risk. There are a lot of head injuries that are dangerous or could cause serious damage brain and in turn, the body. Because of this, precautions, rules, and guidelines need to be in place to prevent and treat these athletes. If these things are not put in place, it could mean the difference between life and death for these athletes. There are many different injuries that can occur to the head and face. Facial injuries can be very dangerous as it can concern the eyes nose and mouth.
Brain Aneurysms What is a brain aneurysm? One could define a brain aneurysm as a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Over time, weak areas in the walls bulge out, causing the blood vessel walls to become weaker as the aneurysm grows (Simon). In most human beings, a brain aneurysm can go undetected for years, even possibly one's entire life. Some people however are not so lucky, in some instances, the aneurysm can rupture or explode, causing a hemorrhagic stroke, which is known as the type of stroke that causes bleeding in the brain.
"My most valuable tool is words, the words I can now use only with difficulty. My voice is debilitated - mute, a prisoner of a communication system damaged by a stroke that has robbed me of language," stated A. H. Raskins, one of approximately one million people in the United States who suffer from aphasia (1), a disorder which limits the comprehension and expression of language. It is an acquired impairment due to brain injury in the left cerebral hemisphere. The most common cause of aphasia is a stroke, but other causes are brain tumors, head injury, or other neuralgic illnesses. Of the estimated 400,000 strokes which occur a year, approximately 80,000 of those patients develop some form of aphasia (2). Another important observation is that within the United States, there are twice as many people with aphasia as there are individuals with Parkinson's disease (2). Yet, what is so astounding is the lack of public awareness about aphasia. Aphasia attacks an intricate part of a person's daily life - the simple act of communication and sharing. The disbursement of such a tool deprives an individual of education learned through their life, often leaving the ill fated feeling hopeless and alone. In considering the effects of aphasia, a deeper analysis of the two most common forms of aphasia will be examined: Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia. While both forms occur usually as a result of a stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain, their particular site of impairment produces different side effects in an individual's comprehension and speech. These regions have been further studied through experimental researches such as positron emission tomography (PET). Moreover, although there is currently no cure for the disorder, there are treatments and certain guidelines to follow when encountering an aphasic.
Stroke is a commonly known disease that is often fatal. This cellular disease occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by either a blood clot halting the progress of blood cells in an artery, called an Ischemic stroke, or a blood vessel in the brain bursting or leaking causing internal bleeding in the brain, called a hemorrhagic stroke. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients because the blood cells carrying these essential things are stopped, causing them to die. When the cells in the brain die, sensation or movement in a limb might be cut off and may limit an organism’s abilities. A person with stroke is affected depending on where in the brain the stroke occurs. In other words, symptoms of a stroke
Although language remains fluent and in proper syntax, the overall amount of talking decreases. Patients have difficulty maintaining conversations and some even become mute. Motor functions are often uncoordinated and patients often have difficulty constructing three
Most of the body’s functions such as, thinking, emotions, memories and so forth are controlled by the brain. It serves as a central nervous system in the human body. The mind is the intellect/consciousness that originates in the human brain and manifests itself in emotions, thoughts, perceptions and so forth. This means that the brain is the key interpreter of the mind’s content. Jackson and Nagel seem to resist identifying what we call “mental events” with brain events, for different reasons, while J.J.C. Smart takes the opposing view.