Brain Aneurysm Awareness
The Bexley Rose Foundation is committed to raising awareness about brain aneurysms — a cause close to our hearts and central to our mission. By educating our community about the signs, symptoms, and importance of early recognition, we hope to help save lives.
What Is a Brain Aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. Many aneurysms go undetected because they produce no symptoms. However, when an aneurysm ruptures, it can cause a life-threatening condition called a subarachnoid hemorrhage — bleeding in the space surrounding the brain.
Brain aneurysms can affect anyone, at any age. Awareness and early recognition are critical.
Know the Signs & Symptoms
A ruptured brain aneurysm is a medical emergency. If you or someone around you experiences any of the following, call 911 immediately:
- Sudden, severe headache — often described as the “worst headache of your life”
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stiff neck
- Blurred or double vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Seizure
- Drooping eyelid
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion or sudden change in mental status
Do not wait. Time is critical. Call 911 immediately if these symptoms appear.
Unruptured Aneurysm Symptoms
Some aneurysms, particularly larger ones, may cause symptoms before rupturing. These can include:
- Pain above and behind one eye
- A dilated pupil
- Numbness, weakness, or paralysis on one side of the face
- Vision changes
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.
Warning Signs in Children
Brain aneurysms are rare in children, but they do occur, and kids are more likely than adults to already be experiencing a rupture by the time they're diagnosed. Because children may not be able to describe their symptoms clearly, it's important for parents and caregivers to know the warning signs:
- Sudden, severe headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Sudden changes in alertness, confusion, or excessive sleepiness
- Seizures
- Neck stiffness or unusual sensitivity to light
- New weakness, numbness, or trouble with vision or balance
- In infants: a bulging soft spot, irritability that won't settle, or unusual eye movements
If your child experiences any of these symptoms, don't wait — seek emergency medical care right away.
Risk Factors
While brain aneurysms can occur in anyone, certain factors may increase risk, including:
- Family history of brain aneurysms
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Smoking
- Age (more common in adults over 40)
- Gender (more common in women)
- Certain inherited connective tissue disorders
In children, brain aneurysms are often linked to different underlying causes, including:
- Genetic or connective tissue disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Marfan syndrome
- Congenital conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease or coarctation of the aorta
- Severe head trauma or certain infections
- Certain blood disorders, including sickle cell disease
Why Awareness Matters
Many people who experience a ruptured brain aneurysm do not survive, and those who do often face significant challenges in recovery. Early recognition of symptoms and immediate medical response can make the difference between life and death.
The Bexley Rose Foundation is dedicated to keeping this conversation alive — in schools, in communities, and on athletic fields — so that more families are equipped with the knowledge that could save a life.
Get Involved
Help us spread awareness. Share this page, talk to your family and friends about the signs and symptoms, and support our mission by making a donation. Together, we can carry her light forward.
For more information about brain aneurysms, visit the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.