Hypertension, smoking, family history are factors that increase the risk of brain aneurysms.
Brain aneurysms are abnormalities of the cerebral vascular system, forming when the artery wall is weakened and inflated, forming a small bag containing blood. When an aneurysm is bursting, the blood spill out of the vessel causing brain bleeding, which can lead to death or severe nerve sequelae.
Master, Doctor Pham Van Tin, Department of Neurosurgery – Spine, Tam Anh General Hospital of Hanoi, said the factors were recorded by the literature related to the risk of brain aneurysms including:
The size of an aneurysm
Large aneurysms often have higher internal pressure, vulnerable to vascular walls and increase the risk of breaking. The International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms) shows an aneurysm with a diameter of over 7 mm in the anterior artery or the middle brain artery is at higher risk of breaking. However, some small aneurysms under 5 mm can also break, especially when accompanied by other risk factors such as smoking, hypertension or special position of aneurysm.
Location and characteristics of aneurysm
The aneurysms are located at the next circulating, including the basal artery and vertebra artery, which is higher than that of the previous circulating bag. The vascular walls in this region are usually thinner, blood pressure changes continuously and difficult to access surgery so it is vulnerable. The aneurysm in the rear artery and the anterior artery is usually greatly influenced by blood pressure, increasing pressure on the wall of aneurges over time.
In terms of morphology, the aneurysm has a narrow neck, irregular walls or small buds (Blebs) on the surface often accompanied by a higher risk of rupture. The rhombus aneurysm or has many small compartments often accompanied by blood disorders inside, creating local pressure areas that make the vascular wall fragile.
Doctor Tam Anh surgery for patients. Image: The hospital provides
Smoking
Smoking is a high risk factor for both formation and bulging bags. Nicotine and substances in cigarette smoke cause vascular endothelial damage, reduce elasticity of the vascular wall and promote intravascular inflammation. Smoking increases blood pressure and changes the properties of bleeding, thereby increasing pressure on an aneurysm.
Hypertension
Hypertension causes pressure stretching up the wall and changing the dynamics of blood flow, making the aneurysm quickly weak. Uncontrolled hypertension is a risk factor recorded in epidemiological studies on subarachnom bleeding due to aneurysm. Good blood pressure control helps slow the progression of aneurysm and reduces the risk of breaking.
Family history and genetic factors
People who have a relative (father, mother, siblings) used to have an aneurysm or subarly bleeding at risk than the common population. Genetic mutations related to the structure of the circuit or cell repair mechanism contribute to the formation and breaking of aneurysm. Some genetic syndrome such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan or polycystic kidney disease are associated with connective tissue structural abnormalities, thereby weakening the walls.
Gender and age
Dr. Tin leads a number of studies showing that women are at higher risk of aneurysm and breaking an aneurysm higher than men, especially after menopause. Estrogen hormonal decline can affect the durability of the vascular wall, reducing the ability to fight blood pressure. Elderly accompanied by the aging of the blood vessel system and reducing the ability to fix the wall damage itself, increasing the probability of breaking aneurysm when there are other favorable factors.
Hemodynamic disorders and blood vessel abnormalities
The abnormalities of the bleeding in the vessel, especially in the branching spots, creates strong cutting and swirling force on the wall of aneurysm. In the long term, these factors damage the endothelial layer and promote the process of degeneration into circuit. Vascular deformities such as dynamic – veins or narrow vessels also change hemodynamics, thereby affecting the durability of the aneurysm.
Alcohol and stimulants
Drinking plenty of alcohol causes blood pressure to increase suddenly, vasodilate and weaken the structure of the vascular wall. Stimulants like cocaine have a strong and sudden vasoconstriction, leading to a short time of blood pressure and blood flow in a short time, increasing the risk of aneurysm breaking.
History of subarachnoid hemorrhage or bulging bag
Patients who had an aneurysm were broken if they were in danger of rupture if they had not been completely intervened. This risk is highest in the first 24-48 hours after the first bleeding, according to Dr. Tin. The patient has many bulging bags and also faces the risk of one of them next.
Physical activity with high intensity
High intensity physical activity can increase blood pressure in a short time, especially when sudden exertion or excessive tolerance. For people with an aneurysms, the sudden hypertension during exercise can create more pressure on the wall of an aneurysm inherently weak, thereby increasing the risk of breaking. However, there is no evidence to confirm that all forms of high intensity exercise cause aneurysm. The risk depends on blood vessel condition, the level of damage and the accompanying risk factors. People with an aneurysm or a risk group should be moderate, suitable for the condition.
“Broken pockets are dangerous, often suddenly and unpredictable,” Dr. Tin said, adding that the risk of control. Periodic health examination, maintaining a healthy lifestyle plays an important role to help early detection of abnormalities in blood vessel structure as well as potential risk factors. When signs of abnormalities appear such as severe headaches, dizziness, visual disorders or numbness, patients should see a doctor immediately.