What is a Brain aneursym?

Dear Ask The Doctor: What is an brain aneurysm can medication keep it inunder control can you drive a car when y have it can you work and can you live a normal life withit

Dear ANN MARIE: Aneurysm is the thinning and subsequently filling of a spot in the blood vessel that balloons out and fills with blood.  The bulging aneurysm can put pressure on a nerve or surrounding brain tissue.  It may also leak or rupture, spilling blood into the surrounding tissue (called a hemorrhage). Aneurysms cannot be detected by a blood test, but requires imaging - CT, MRI or an angiography for diagnosis. Small, unchanging aneurysms generally will not produce symptoms, whereas a larger aneurysm that is steadily growing may press on tissues and nerves, producing symptoms like pain above and behind the eye, numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the face, vision changes and when an aneurysm bursts, a sudden and extremely severe headache, double vision, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck and/or loss of consciousness may occur.Treatment for a symptomatic aneurysm is to repair the blood vessels. Clipping and coiling are two treatment options. In clipping, as the name suggest, a neurosurgeon puts a clip across the aneurysm and thus preventing blood collection and growth of the aneurysm. During coiling, a neurosurgeon fills the aneurysm with coils of platinum wire or with latex. This prevents further blood from entering the aneurysm and resolves the problem.