Doctors call for awareness on screening for aneurysms
Up to one percent of people receiving digital subtraction angiography of brain vessels are found to have cerebral arterial aneurysms, which should be detected early for in-time intervention and treatment.
However, most people fail to receive timely screening, which can lead to death within minutes or hours, local doctors told a surgical training class on aneurysm treatment and brain function protection.
An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge that occurs in the wall of the major blood vessel. When an aneurysm bursts it can lead to fatal brain hemorrhage.
“The mortality rate of the first hemorrhage due to aneurysm is 30 percent, and that climbs to 70 percent in the second bleeding — there is almost a 100 percent mortality rate in the third bleeding,” said Dr Liu Weidong, president of Punan Hospital, an organizer of the training class. “The key for aneurysm prevention and control is early screening, but almost no one receives checks voluntarily.”
Liu said people over 40 years of age in poor health, those with risk factors like hypertension and coronary diseases, and those with unhealthy life habits like smoking and drinking should receive brain vessel screenings voluntarily to identify risks early.
“The peak time for aneurysms is between 40 and 60 years of age. Adopting a healthy life style like quitting smoking, avoiding fatigue and controlling hypertension and diabetes are all effective,” he said.