An aneurysm is a balloon or bulge at one area of the artery wall. When the artery wall weakens at a spot along the course of the vessel, it is prone to ballooning due to blood collecting within the sac-like pouch. This ballooning continues to add stress to the already compromised vessel wall and can rupture. This can be fatal.
A aneurysm can affect any artery but tends to occur more frequently in the aorta or cerebral artery. Aneurysms do not always appear like a balloon extending from the wall. At times it may appear like a bulge or widening of the artery at the affected area.
