😟 12. Sudden Anxiety or “Sense of Doom”

Some patients report an intense, unexplained fear or feeling that “something is terribly wrong” right before rupture.

Though vague, this gut instinct should never be ignored — especially with other symptoms.

🩺 Types of Aneurysms & Risk Factors

🔹 Unruptured Aneurysm

May cause mild symptoms if pressing on brain tissue (e.g., vision changes, headaches).

Often found incidentally during brain scans.

🔹 Ruptured Aneurysm

Medical emergency. Mortality rate is up to 50% within the first month.

About 1 in 3 survivors suffer long-term disability.

📌 Who’s at Risk?

Smokers (3x higher risk)

High blood pressure (major contributor)

Family history of aneurysms

Age 40+ (most common in adults 40–60)

Certain conditions: PCOS, connective tissue disorders, brain tumors

✅ What to Do If You Notice These Signs

🆘 If symptoms come on suddenly — especially #1 (worst headache ever) — CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

Time is brain.

🚑 Emergency treatment may include:

CT scan or lumbar puncture (to detect blood)

Cerebral angiogram (to locate the aneurysm)

Surgery (clipping) or endovascular coiling (minimally invasive)

🩺 For unruptured aneurysms found early:

Monitoring with regular imaging

Lifestyle changes (quit smoking, control BP)

Preventive repair if high-risk

❤️ Final Thought: Listen to Your Body — And Trust Your Instincts

You don’t need to panic every time you get a headache.

But if something feels different — sharper, more intense, paired with strange neurological symptoms — do not brush it off.

A brain aneurysm doesn’t announce itself politely.

It strikes fast.

It hits hard.

And the only thing standing between disaster and survival…

is awareness.

So share this list. Talk about it. Save it.

Because sometimes, knowing the signs isn’t just helpful.

It’s lifesaving.