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Suggest Treatment For Symptoms Of Aneurysm Of Carotid Artery
Question: I went to the ER with complaints of headaches. I had received a call from my doctor 2 days earlier that I had a brain aneurysm. The ER doctor advised it is not in my head, but in my carotid artery in my neck. How serious is this diagnosis, and what symptoms indicate I need to go back to ER. I took xarelto from 3/29/14 to 10/27/14 for a pulmonary embolism and have been off meds since 10/27/14. I was referred to another nuerologist specialist by my treating neurologist.
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello !
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
An aneurysm in a blood vessel is an bulging or ballooning in the wall of the vessel.It happens when the linings of the vessel wall weakens.It can happen in all blood vessels (arteries ,veins ) and in every part of the body.
Two major complications in an aneurysm are :
1)blood clots formations .This happens because the blood flow in the part of the blood vessel with aneurysm is altered (not normal flow) and it increases the risk of blood clots formation.These clots can block the blood flow to a specific part of the body that is supplied form the artery with aneurysm.
2) The risk of rupture of the aneurysm.This happens because with time the aneurysm gets larger and larger due to blood pressure and the wall thinner and thinner ,increasing the risk of rupture.
3) The aneurysm can cause secondary pressure on surrounding structures such as veins and nerves causing specific symptoms.
An aneurysm of carotid artery means that the part of the carotid artery in the neck has a bulging on the wall that can cause the above complications.
Carotid artery is the main artery that supplies brain so it is a very important artery.So we can say that aneurysm of carotid artery is pretty serious.
The symptoms of carotid artery aneurysm include:
1) If blood clots form can cause transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or stroke.Symptoms may include :
-Feeling weakness, numbness, or a tingling sensation on one side of your body (in an arm or a leg).
-Being unable to control the movement of an arm or a leg
-Losing vision in one eye (it may feel like a window shade coming down)
-Being unable to speak clearly
In case of TIA these symptoms may last up to 24 hours and resolve but in a stroke they last more than 24 hours.
2)If the aneurysm cause pressure on surrounding structures.The symptoms may include facial swelling, hoarseness or difficulty swallowing.
3)In the cases of aneurysm rupture it causes a life-threatening bleeding.
The management of carotid artery aneurysm depends on the dimensions of the aneurysm, the risk of complications ,the symptoms that you might have.
So if your aneurysm is small and you don't have any symptom your doctor may decide to wait and observe it closely with periodic ultrasounds.
If you have high blood pressure your doctor will prescribe you medications to lower it .
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other questions or doubts to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello !
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
An aneurysm in a blood vessel is an bulging or ballooning in the wall of the vessel.It happens when the linings of the vessel wall weakens.It can happen in all blood vessels (arteries ,veins ) and in every part of the body.
Two major complications in an aneurysm are :
1)blood clots formations .This happens because the blood flow in the part of the blood vessel with aneurysm is altered (not normal flow) and it increases the risk of blood clots formation.These clots can block the blood flow to a specific part of the body that is supplied form the artery with aneurysm.
2) The risk of rupture of the aneurysm.This happens because with time the aneurysm gets larger and larger due to blood pressure and the wall thinner and thinner ,increasing the risk of rupture.
3) The aneurysm can cause secondary pressure on surrounding structures such as veins and nerves causing specific symptoms.
An aneurysm of carotid artery means that the part of the carotid artery in the neck has a bulging on the wall that can cause the above complications.
Carotid artery is the main artery that supplies brain so it is a very important artery.So we can say that aneurysm of carotid artery is pretty serious.
The symptoms of carotid artery aneurysm include:
1) If blood clots form can cause transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or stroke.Symptoms may include :
-Feeling weakness, numbness, or a tingling sensation on one side of your body (in an arm or a leg).
-Being unable to control the movement of an arm or a leg
-Losing vision in one eye (it may feel like a window shade coming down)
-Being unable to speak clearly
In case of TIA these symptoms may last up to 24 hours and resolve but in a stroke they last more than 24 hours.
2)If the aneurysm cause pressure on surrounding structures.The symptoms may include facial swelling, hoarseness or difficulty swallowing.
3)In the cases of aneurysm rupture it causes a life-threatening bleeding.
The management of carotid artery aneurysm depends on the dimensions of the aneurysm, the risk of complications ,the symptoms that you might have.
So if your aneurysm is small and you don't have any symptom your doctor may decide to wait and observe it closely with periodic ultrasounds.
If you have high blood pressure your doctor will prescribe you medications to lower it .
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other questions or doubts to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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