"Don't ignore it": the mild symptom that can warn of a brain aneurysm

A headache that feels different than usual could be much more than a simple migraine . This is the warning issued by neurologist Baibing Chen, known as Dr. Bing on social media, who explained that there is a subtle symptom that could warn of a brain aneurysm before a critical situation arises. “Don't ignore it,” he warned in a viral TikTok video, where he detailed the case of a patient whose persistent headache hid a lethal threat.

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A cerebral aneurysm is a serious cerebrovascular disease characterized by an abnormal dilation in the wall of an artery or vein in the brain. Although most don't present symptoms until they rupture—which can cause life-threatening subarachnoid hemorrhage —in some cases, there are early warning signs that can save lives if detected early.

Chen recounted the story of a woman who had visited the doctor three times in just a few weeks for a headache that “wasn’t like the previous ones.” Despite the nausea and photosensitivity she had experienced during her initial visits, there were no conclusive signs until the third visit, when the symptoms took a decisive turn. “She had a fixed dilated pupil and a drooping right eyelid,” the doctor described. While drooping eyelids can be associated with various types of headaches, the change in the pupil was a red flag: the aneurysm was there, silent and potentially life-threatening.

“ It can be difficult to detect, especially if other symptoms are present that confuse the diagnosis,” the specialist explained. Therefore, he insisted on paying attention to headaches that don't respond to standard treatments or that feel different: “That subtle change may be the only clue you have before it's too late.”