A ruptured aneurysm is much more serious and usually causes symptoms suddenly. The most important warning sign is an extremely severe “thunderclap” headache that reaches maximum intensity very quickly. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, a stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, seizures, blurred vision, or loss of consciousness.
Some symptoms may resemble a stroke, including weakness or numbness on one side of the body, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, and sudden vision problems. These symptoms do not prove that someone has an aneurysm, but they require urgent medical evaluation because several serious neurological conditions can cause them.
A sudden, unusually severe headache—especially with fainting, seizures, weakness, confusion, or vision changes—is a medical emergency and should not be watched at home. Most headaches are not caused by aneurysms, but rapid assessment is essential when these severe warning signs appear because a ruptured aneurysm can cause life-threatening bleeding around the brain.
