An aneurysm is a condition that occurs in various parts of the body, especially the heart, the aorta and the brain. This condition is not something that people possess at birth, but certain genetic conditions can predispose people to develop aneurysms throughout life. This article discusses some acquired causes of aneurysms for the brain, the heart and the aorta.
Definition
An aneurysm is the widening or ballooning of a blood vessel. A person becomes to have a rupture when the ballooned vessel gets bigger. In human arteries, blood vessel linings are weakened, especially if they are stretched. People with inherited (congenital) connective tissue disorders are more likely to have a blood vessel rupture. Most aneurysms occur in the human brain; the affected region is an area called the Circle of Willis.
Causes of Brain Aneurysms
According to David S. Liebeskind, Associate Professor of Neurology, at UCLA, external conditions can contribute to the development of aneurysms in patients. "Environmental stressors, such as hypertension, have been associated with the presence of multiple aneurysms. A familial inheritance pattern has been noted in fewer than 2% of intracranial aneurysms."
Environmental Risk Factors
Human behaviors, otherwise known as environmental risk factors, can make aneurysms more likely to rupture. People should reduce their chances of suffering damage or death from risk factors for aneurysms, including smoking, drinking alcohol, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. The best approach to avoid these factors is abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, and the practice of good nutrition and regular exercise. Although aneurysms are likely to be developed in people with certain genetic disorders, aneurysms can affect anyone.
Copper Deficiency
The human body needs a small amount of copper (measured in milligrams) for normal functioning. Copper is acquired through absorption in the stomach and intestines. Copper deficiency has been associated with brain aneurysms in studies of animals, and some sources claim in humans as well, from evidence in autopsies.
According to Dr. Vini G. Khurana, a Mayo Clinic-trained neurosurgeon, about 30,000 people will have a ruptured brain aneurysm in the United States annually.
Bioinformatics
A project in Europe known as the Integrated Biomedical Informatics for the Management of Cerebral Aneurysms represents an important step toward a better understanding of the causes of a cerebral aneurysm. In this four-year project, researchers manipulate multiple sources of information (or bioinformatics) to help diagnose and prevent aneurysms in high-risk patients.
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