Bengaluru doctors save life of woman suffering from giddiness; highlight why headaches shouldn't be taken lightly

Bengaluru doctors have successfully saved the life of a 57yearold woman who came to the hospital with giddiness and a newly developed headache While there were no obvious clinical signs of stroke or bleeding the headache was unusual enough to warrant further evaluation leading to an MRI The scan showed no evidence of a stroke but instead it revealed an aneurysm located at a critical junction of blood vessels deep within the brain Fortunately the aneurysm had not rupturedFor many people headaches have become a part of daily life Stress lack of sleep dehydration long working hours and constant screen exposure are often blamedmdashand in most cases rightly so A painkiller a cup of coffee or a few hours of rest usually bring reliefWhy headaches should be taken seriouslyThe headache that deserves attention is often not the most severe one It is the headache that feels different says Dr Chinmay Nagesh interventional neuroradiologist Apollo Hospitals in Jayanagar because a dangerous headache is not always dramatic It may simply be sudden unfamiliar or completely out of character for that individual In some cases it can be the first warning sign of a brain aneurysmA brain aneurysm he says is a balloonlike bulge that develops in a weakened blood vessel within the brain Most aneurysms remain silent for years and cause no symptoms Many are discovered incidentally during scans performed for unrelated reasons However if an aneurysm ruptures it can cause bleeding around the brainmdasha lifethreatening emergency that may result in stroke permanent neurological disability or deathDr Nagesh shares The womans case highlights an important entity which is the sentinel headache of a brain aneurysm A new headachemdashparticularly one that develops later in life or feels distinctly different from previous headachesmdashdeserves medical attention The problem is not that people get headaches The problem is that many people become too comfortable dismissing them And this is precisely why early evaluation mattersUnderstanding the complexities of a brain aneurysmThe Bengalurubased health expert says not every aneurysm requires treatment Many small lowrisk aneurysms can be monitored safely with periodic imaging However treatment may be recommended when an aneurysm causes symptoms has a higherrisk shape is increasing in size or is located in a region associated with a greater risk of ruptureOver the past two decades endovascular treatments in which catheters are navigated through blood vessels to treat the aneurysm with coils from within have become the preferred approach for many patients because it avoids open surgery and typically offers faster recovery and shorter hospital staysDr Nagesh further explains The aneurysm in this patient presented a particular challenge because it had a wide neck Such aneurysms have traditionally required placement of coils along with a supporting stent across the parent artery While highly effective stentassisted treatment often requires prolonged antiplatelet medication to prevent clot formation within the stent Instead we used a newer device known as the Woven EndoBridge WEB device an intrasaccular flow disruptor designed specifically for certain widenecked aneurysms He further explains The WEB device is a soft meshlike implant that is placed entirely inside the aneurysm Once deployed it conforms to the shape of the aneurysm and disrupts blood flow entering the sac promoting gradual clotting and healing of the aneurysm from within Because the device sits entirely inside the aneurysm many patients can avoid placement of a permanent stent in the parent artery and do not require longterm antiplatelet therapy This represents a significant advance in the treatment of carefully selected aneurysms The procedure took approximately 90 minutes and the patient recovered well enough to be discharged within 48 hoursInnovations such as intrasaccular devices are changing how brain aneurysms are treated Procedures that once required major surgery can now in selected patients be managed through minimally invasive techniques with shorter hospital stays and faster recovery However technology and skilled doctors alone are not enough Awareness remains critical because aneurysms often produce no warning signs until they become dangerousDr Nagesh says people should seek immediate medical attention if a headache shows the following signs1 Appears suddenly and reaches maximum intensity within seconds or minutes2 Feels like the worst headache of your life3 Is accompanied by vomiting fainting or seizures4 Causes confusion weakness or difficulty speaking5 Leads to blurred or double vision6 Is associated with neck stiffness7 Has a new headache pattern after the age of 50Certain factors also increase the risk of developing brain aneurysms including uncontrolled high blood pressure smoking excessive alcohol consumption and a family history of aneurysmsThe goal is not to create fear around every headache Rather it is to encourage people to pay attention when something feels unusual In many cases timely imaging and specialist evaluation can identify a brain aneurysm before it rupturesmdashand that can make the difference between a routine hospital visit and a lifethreatening emergency