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Brain aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is a bulge in an artery in or around the brain. Many aneurysms cause no symptoms, but rupture often causes a sudden, unprecedentedly severe headache and can become life-threatening within minutes. Call Ambulance 912 immediately and do not drive yourself.

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A brain aneurysm is a bulge in an artery in or around the brain. Many aneurysms cause no symptoms, but rupture often causes a sudden, unprecedentedly severe headache and can become life-threatening within minutes. Call an ambulance immediately and do not drive yourself.

  • Most small unruptured aneurysms cause no symptoms and are found incidentally on a scan.
  • A larger aneurysm may cause pain around or behind one eye, double vision, a drooping eyelid or a dilated pupil.
  • For a thunderclap headache, call Ambulance 912 immediately, do not drive yourself and have someone stay with you.
  • Stop smoking and seek support if you cannot stop alone; avoid cocaine and other stimulant drugs.
  • Call for medical help immediately for a new, sudden severe headache, even if it eases after minutes or hours.
  • For urgent GP care outside office hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediate threat to life.

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Further reading

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R
Ruptured brain aneurysmA ruptured weak spot in a blood vessel in the head is usually a ruptured brain aneurysm. This causes sudden bleeding around the brain. The classic symptom is an extremely severe headache that starts very suddenly and reaches maximum intensity within seconds to minutes. This is an emergency: call Ambulance 912 immediately.
A
Abdominal aortic aneurysmAn abdominal aortic aneurysm is a localised widening of the body's main artery in the abdomen. Most cause no symptoms and are monitored with ultrasound, but growth increases the risk of rupture. Sudden severe abdominal or back pain with pallor, sweating, fainting or collapse is immediately life-threatening.
H
Heart attackA heart attack usually occurs when a coronary artery suddenly becomes blocked, leaving part of the heart muscle short of oxygen. It often causes chest pressure or pain, breathlessness, sweating, nausea or pain spreading to other areas, but symptoms can also be less typical. If you suspect a heart attack, do not wait: call Ambulance 912 immediately and do not drive yourself.