Symptom 3: Nausea and Vomiting – Indicative of Increased Intracranial Pressure
Moving on, we come to a symptom that’s easy to overlook – nausea and vomiting. Now, you might wonder, “Aren’t those signs of a bad stomach day or a response to something you ate?” Normally, yes, but when these symptoms are coupled with severe headaches, the combination could be indicative of something more serious, like a cerebral aneurysm.
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting, a forceful expulsion of the stomach’s contents through the mouth. In the case of a cerebral aneurysm, these symptoms aren’t due to an upset tummy or a reaction to something disagreeable you’ve consumed. Rather, they’re a response to changes occurring within the brain.
When an aneurysm ruptures, the leaking blood can cause a sudden increase in intracranial pressure, i.e., the pressure within the skull. This increased pressure impacts the brain’s functions, including areas responsible for controlling nausea and vomiting. As a result, you might experience a sudden urge to throw up or persistent feelings of nausea.
Furthermore, what differentiates nausea and vomiting due to a cerebral aneurysm from a standard stomach upset is their sudden and unexplainable onset. You might not have eaten anything suspect, and yet you’re suddenly dealing with an upset stomach. It’s this unaccountable onset, particularly if paired with a severe headache, that signals trouble.
Wrapping up, nausea and vomiting, as benign as they may seem, could be indicative of a lurking cerebral aneurysm. It’s a symptom often brushed off, credited to the wrong cause. However, it’s essential to consider these in tandem with other symptoms, painting a comprehensive picture of what might be unfolding within your brain. (3)
