Understanding Aneurysm Care with Dr. Gursant Atwal
Thursday, September 25, 2025
According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, an estimated 6.7 million Americans — about 1 in every 50 — have an unruptured brain aneurysm, many of which have not yet been diagnosed.
September is Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month, and UI Health is raising awareness about the common signs of an aneurysm emergency, aneurysm risk factors, and treatment options for patients worried about their risk.
What is an Aneurysm?
In the simplest terms, an aneurysm is a bulge, like a bubble or balloon, in an artery that has typically been weakened from age or other medical conditions. Unfortunately, aneurysms are known to have silent symptoms until they rupture or become large enough to press on nerves, and early signs of an aneurysm are rare.
"Silent" aneurysm symptoms are subtle warning signs of an unruptured aneurysm that presses on nerves, including pain above or behind an eye, a dilated pupil, a drooping eyelid, vision changes, facial weakness, or numbness.
And if an aneurysm does rupture, the classic symptom is a sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache, vision changes, numbness, and an inability to speak. It’s known as the worst headache you’ve ever had in your life.
Who is at Risk?
Aneurysms are most common in adults between 30 and 60 years old. Additionally, having high blood pressure damages and weakens arteries, increasing your risk and making them more likely to form and rupture.
The risk factor I’m most concerned about as a doctor is a personal or first-degree family history of aneurysms,” UI Health neurosurgeon Dr. Gursant Atwal said. “These can make a new aneurysm more likely to bleed.”
To reduce your risk of developing an aneurysm, Dr. Atwal recommends the following:
- Quitting smoking
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing your cholesterol
- Moderating your alcohol intake
- Controlling your blood sugar if you have diabetes
- Eating a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables
- Improving the quality and duration of your sleep
Treatment Options at UI Health
If you are diagnosed with an aneurysm, treatment plans can vary based on the size of the aneurysm, whether it has ruptured, the severity, and the patient’s overall health. Ruptured aneurysms, for example, are medical emergencies and require immediate surgery to stop the blood flow and repair the area near the ruptured artery.
Meanwhile, aneurysms that aren’t impacting the nerves or causing symptoms, can be monitored without any intervention for decades. These aneurysms may be detected on MRIs and other types of advanced imaging, and preventative, minimally invasive surgery may be an option for some.
“What separates UI Health is our expertise treating both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms,” said Dr. Atwal. “Being an academic medical center, our team can provide treatment options and levels of care that might not be available at a community hospital.”
“There are times when a small aneurysm in a dangerous spot requires open surgery, and there are times when a large aneurysm is in a location that isn’t as risky,” he added. “Our team is highly-skilled in evaluating and treating various kinds of aneurysms with a variety of surgical and non-surgical interventions, based on your unique needs.”
If you have questions about aneurysm care, learn more about the Brain Aneurysm Program at UI Health.
