Aneurysms

An aneurysm is a bulge or widening in a blood vessel, caused by a weakening of the blood vessel wall. It can happen in any blood vessel, but is seen more often in arteries than veins. An aneurysm usually won't cause any problems if it doesn't rupture (burst). If an aneurysm bursts, it can be very dangerous, causing bleeding and even death.

Aneurysms can occur anywhere in your body. The 2 main types are aortic aneurysms (affecting the main artery that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body) and brain aneurysms (also called cerebral aneurysms).

An aneurysm may cause no symptoms unless it is very large or it bursts. The symptoms of an aneurysm depend on which blood vessel is affected and whether it has burst.

Brain aneurysm

Symptoms of a brain aneurysm may include:

• headache
• dizziness
• changes in vision
• difficulty with eye movements

If it bursts, it can cause:

• a sudden, very severe headache
• nausea and vomiting
• neck pain

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm may cause pain in your abdomen, back or side. If it ruptures, it can lead to severe pain, weakness and collapse.

Aneurysms are more common in some families — you may be at higher risk if you have relatives who have had aneurysms.

Aneurysms are often caused by a gradual weakening of the wall of an artery. Your risk of some types of aneurysms may be increased if you:

• are a smoker
• have high blood pressure
• have heart disease and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

Aneurysms can also occur with certain health conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease and some connective tissue disorders.

Many aneurysms are found by chance, when you are having tests for other health problems. If you are at risk of aneurysms, your doctor may refer you for a screening test, such as:

• an ultrasound scan
• an MRI scan
• a CT scan

Treatment will depend on the type of aneurysm and where it is in your body.

If you have a small aneurysm, your doctor may recommend regular check-ups to see if it is getting bigger.

Your doctor may talk about ways you can help stop it from getting bigger or bursting, such as:

• stopping smoking
• treating high blood pressure
• cutting down on alcohol
• not lifting heavy weights

It's also important to look after your heart and blood vessels if you have an aneurysm. Your doctor may prescribe you medicines to prevent your blood from clotting or medicines to lower your cholesterol.

If your aneurysm is at high risk of rupture, your doctor may suggest surgery. If your aneurysm bursts, you will usually need emergency surgery in hospital.

Adopting healthy habits can help prevent some aneurysms forming. Try to:

• eat a healthy diet
• stop smoking
• exercise
• take medicines as prescribed for high blood pressure

If an aneurysm bursts, it is very serious and can cause loss of consciousness and death. Please call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance.

Find out more about aortic aneurysm and brain aneurysm.

For help with quitting smoking, call Quitline on 13 7848.

Find out more about living a healthy lifestyle to prevent cardiovascular disease from the Life! program.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Other languages

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has videos about quitting smoking in a range of community languages.

Read more about quitting smoking in a range of community languages from Health Translations Victoria.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Find support for quitting smoking for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people at iCanQuit.