Factors of a Brain Aneurysm

Some risk factors that can lead to brain aneurysms can be controlled, and others can’t. The following risk factors may increase your risk of developing an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, may increase your risk of it rupturing:

• Family history – People who have a family history of brain aneurysms are twice as likely to have an aneurysm as those who don’t.
• Previous aneurysm – About 20% of patients with brain aneurysms have more than one
• Arteriosclerosis – Hardening of the arteries
• Gender – Women are more likely to suffer from a brain aneurysm at a ratio of 3:2
• Race – African Americans have twice as many subarachnoid hemorrhages as whites
• Hypertension – The risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage is greater in people with a history of high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Smoking – In addition to being a cause of hypertension, the use of cigarettes may greatly increase the chances of a brain aneurysm rupturing
• Alcohol Use – Heavy alcohol consumption has been linked to the development of a brain aneurysm
• Head injury
• Use of Oral Contraceptives
• Inherited Disorders – Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls) and Polycystic Kidney Disease (an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys)