Smoking and alcohol abuse predispose to intracranial aneurysms

  Intracranial aneurysm is a localized abnormal expansion or dilatation of the intracranial arterial wall, which occurs mainly due to local defects in the arterial wall and increased pressure in the lumen, and is often compared to a “tire bulge” by doctors.  Smoking, alcohol abuse, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia are all risk factors for intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysms often grow unnoticed, the symptoms are not typical, and the patient may not even feel anything. However, it is like planting an “unscheduled bomb” in the brain, which is dangerous if it ruptures and bleeds, and is the main cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage.  Intracranial aneurysms are generally classified into two categories: ruptured aneurysms and unruptured aneurysms, depending on the presence or absence of bleeding. The focus of treatment is to prevent bleeding and rebleeding, just like defusing a bomb to prevent it from causing a cerebrovascular “explosion”. At present, there are two tools to defuse the bomb: one is the endovascular intervention, using the spring-ring embolization technique to densely fill the aneurysm cavity so that it cannot bleed; the other is the craniotomy method, which clamps the aneurysm from the outside of the blood vessel to isolate it from the blood vessel so that it will no longer bleed. During the treatment, the doctor will choose the appropriate means according to the actual situation such as the location, size and shape of the aneurysm.  In daily life, it is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to avoid “minefielding” the brain. It is important to combine work and rest, avoid staying up late, excessive fatigue and long-term mental tension, and stay away from stimulating factors such as smoking and alcohol.