Sudden Death of Hollywood Actor Reminds People of Ways to Reduce Risk From Cerebral Aneurysm

Actor Tom Sizemore arrives at the premiere of "The Expendables 3" in Los Angeles on Aug. 11, 2014. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

On Feb. 18, 2023, popular Hollywood movie star Tom Sizemore died suddenly from a brain (cerebral) aneurysm, arousing great attention and fond memories from movie fans. How to prevent and reduce the risk of aneurysms has also become a much-talked-about subject.

According to statistics from the American Brain Aneurysm Foundation, nearly 500,000 people worldwide die from brain aneurysms every year, and half are under 50. In the United States, 6.7 million people have an unruptured cerebral aneurysm, or 1 in 50 people, and about 30,000 people experience a ruptured cerebral aneurysm each year—an average of one rupture every 18 minutes. The male-to-female ratio is 2:3, that is, women are more likely to suffer from cerebral aneurysms than men.

Brain Aneurysm Decoded

A brain aneurysm is not a kind of tumor but a frail link or weak point on the brain artery. The weakened blood vessel walls will either expand or fill with blood, putting pressure on the nerve or brain tissue. The cause of brain aneurysms is still not that well understood, and some are congenital.

Once a brain aneurysm bursts or ruptures, it can spill blood into the surrounding tissue, creating a hemorrhagic stroke that can lead to brain damage, coma, and even death.

Symptoms of Cerebral Aneurysm

Most cerebral aneurysms are asymptomatic, and discovered during brain CT or MRI checks taken for other brain issues.

In some people, cerebral aneurysms increase in size over time and may compress nerves in the cranium causing paralysis of one side of the face, dilated pupils, blurred vision, double vision, or other neurological symptoms.

If the aneurysm ruptures and blood flows into the subarachnoid space instantly, symptoms such as severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, and vomiting will occur. At this time, immediate surgical rescue is required, as it is life-threatening.

High-Risk Groups for Cerebral Aneurysm

Who is at most risk for a cerebral aneurysm? Long-term on-the-spot observations have found that abnormal vascular lesions, such as amyloid angiopathy or cerebral atherosclerosis, are likely to cause abnormal lesions in the arterial wall of the brain to develop into aneurysms.

And in addition to having a family medical history of cerebral aneurysm, people with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia may suffer from abnormalities in the cerebral arteries, due to prolonged accumulation.

In those who are addicted to smoking and/or with alcoholism, the stimulation of nicotine and alcohol can cause vasospasm, which can lead to abnormalities in the blood vessel walls and easily induce cerebral aneurysms.

How to Prevent Cerebral Aneurysm

Cerebral aneurysms are almost impossible to prevent, and people with frequent headaches should seek medical attention as soon as possible to determine the cause.

Dr. Lu Huizong, an attending neurosurgery specialist at Shuang Ho Hospital of the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, said that if you want to know if you have a cerebral aneurysm, you need to be tested regularly, especially for those with high blood pressure and headache history. About 90 percent of patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms have no clinical symptoms, so it is recommended to add cerebral vascular imaging examination items during regular check-ups.

In addition, do pay attention to diet. Lu suggested that people at high risk of cerebral aneurysms should take enough antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C and E), vitamin B complex, flavonoids, and Omega-3 fatty acids, and limit the intake of caffeine and alcohol.

Daily diet should be based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish. The Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet both have anti-inflammatory effects and can be used to prevent the formation and rupture of cerebral aneurysms.

Fish oil is rich in Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which can slow down oxidative stress and prevent vascular collagen damage and other factors. At the same time, proper blood pressure control, quitting smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption are always good practices to reduce the risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture.