Bollywood actor Salman Khan says he is suffering from a brain aneurysm, what you need to know about the condition

When it comes to brain aneurysms, the medical facts can be frightening but as experts say, timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial.

Dr Sunil V Furtado, who heads the department of neurosurgery at Ramaiah Institute of Neurosciences in Bengaluru, Dr Furqan Khan, consultant neurologist from Mumbai's Saifee Hospital and Dr Santhosh N U from Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, explains what you need to understand about brain aneurysms, following the recent statement by actor Salman Khan that he is suffering from it.

What is a brain aneurysm?

" An aneurysm is a weakness in any blood vessel in any part of the body. If the weakness occurs in the arteries that supply the brain, it's called a ‘brain aneurysm.’ Picture a small balloon bulging out from your garden hose- that’s essentially what happens in your brain’s blood vessels," said Dr Sunil V Furtado.  

" This bulging happens when the artery wall becomes weakened, creating what looks like a dangerous bubble in your brain blood supply," he added.

Warning signs you cannot ignore

When an aneurysm ruptures, patients universally describe it the same way: ‘the worst headache of their lives,’ said Furtado. It’s not just any headache - it's sudden, severe, and unlike anything they've ever experienced.

Unruptured aneurysms often fly under the radar. According to Dr Santhosh, aneurysms can be 'often symptomless until they rupture'. You might have mild headaches, some vision problems, or a drooping eyelid, but many people have no idea they’re walking around with a potentially fatal condition.

Khan emphasised that sometimes there are warning shots- what doctors call ‘sentinel bleeds’- minor bleeds before a major rupture.  

"40-50 percent of patients die from a ruptured aneurysm before they seek treatment. That's nearly half of all people who experience a rupture," said Dr Furtado.

Even if you survive the initial rupture, the journey isn’t over. About 60 percent of survivors end up with some form of brain damage- what doctors call neurological deficits- from small strokes that happen during the bleeding.

Who is at risk?

All three doctors agree that women face higher risks, especially after menopause. Furtado noted that women are 1.5 times more likely to develop brain aneurysms than men. The hormonal changes that come with menopause seem to affect blood vessel strength.

About one in every 50 people has a brain aneurysm, though most will never know it. Your risk goes up if you’re over 40, have high blood pressure, smoke, use drugs, have diabetes, or if brain aneurysms run in your family.

"In most cases, aneurysms are treatable and manageable, but timely action makes all the difference," said Dr Santhosh.

Modern medicine offers several options: surgical clipping (where surgeons place a tiny clip to seal off the aneurysm) and endovascular coiling (a less invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to the problem area). For small, unruptured aneurysms, careful monitoring might be all that’s needed.

The key is catching them early. Khan said that most of these can be treated and controlled. But this requires getting proper medical attention and not ignoring warning signs.

Health