How common is stroke after a brain aneurysm rupture?
The type of stroke that occurs after a brain aneurysm ruptures is called a hemorrhagic stroke. It happens when a weak spot on an artery in the brain balloons with blood (the aneurysm) and bursts, damaging surrounding brain cells with pressure, according to the CDC.
About 30,000 people in the U.S. experience a brain aneurysm rupture each year, according to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF); it’s estimated that one ruptures every 18 minutes.
Data show that ruptured brain aneurysms account for 3-5% of all new strokes, the BAF says. It’s also known that 1 in 4 stroke survivors go on to have another stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.
Meanwhile, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S., or 1 in 50 people, have a small, unruptured brain aneurysm that does not cause symptoms, the BAF says. They only become problematic when they grow large and burst.
The more common type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke. It occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or reduced, the CDC says, preventing oxygen from reaching brain tissue and causing brain cells to die.
How to spot a stroke
Familiarizing yourself with the symptoms of stroke can save lives because early treatment is critical to a person’s survival and quality of life.
A helpful acronym to remind you of this is BE FAST, said Dr. Susana Bowling, medical director of the Neuroscience Institute at Summa Health and Summa’s Comprehensive Stroke Center in Ohio.
“B” is for balance. Does the person have a sudden loss of gait or balance that’s causing them to stumble or fall?
“E” is for eye. Have they lost vision in one or both eyes?
“F” is for face. Is there any drooping or weakness on one side of their face? Can they smile?
“A” is for arms. Do they have a sudden onset of weakness in one arm?
“S” is for speech. Are they having difficulty speaking or slurring their words? Are people having a hard time understanding them?
“T” is for time to call 911.
A common saying in the stroke community is “time is brain,” Bowling said, because it takes only five minutes for neurons in the brain to start dying: “Every minute counts, so the longer you wait to seek any help, the more deficits you would be accumulating and the worse outcomes you will have.”
The more time that passes after a person has a stroke, the fewer treatments are available to them, Bowling added. “Not only will the treatments potentially be less effective, but they also can be more dangerous. As you accumulate brain injury, the risk for complications of the treatments increase as well.”
Perhaps the biggest sign to look for is the sudden onset of symptoms, Bowling said, like a person suddenly losing the ability to talk during a phone call.
“If you see any BE FAST symptoms, call 911,” she said. “If you have any of these symptoms, this is the one chance that life has given you to take actions before you can no longer take an action.”
How to lower your risk of stroke
Although the cause of a stroke cannot always be determined — a phenomenon known as a cryptogenic stroke — there are known risk factors you can avoid that may increase your chances of having one.
Here are seven ways to lower your risk of stroke:
- Manage blood pressure. High blood pressure damages and weakens arteries. Consistent exercise and a balanced diet can help lower it, but many people require medication.
- Control cholesterol. When too much of these waxy substances build up in your blood, they contribute to plaque build-up in arteries, putting you at higher risk of stroke. Diet changes — such as cutting saturated fat — can help. Many people also need medication.
- Reduce blood sugar. High blood glucose can damage your heart. Diet and exercise often can work to get numbers under control in the pre-diabetes stage.
- Get active. Ideally, you should move for at least 150 minutes a week – the equivalent of five 30-minute brisk walks. But every little bit counts.
- Eat better. That means more whole grains, fruits and vegetables and less ultra-processed foods.
- Lose weight. Excess fat in your abdominal area increases the risk for heart disease.
- Stop smoking. While rates have declined, an estimated 11.5% (28.3 million) of U.S. adults still smoked cigarettes in 2021, according to the CDC. Quitting is the single best thing smokers could do for their health, experts say.
