Sex, coffee in excess and strenuous exercises, and also other activities that gets the blood pressure through the roof, increase the risk of the occurrence and the “break” of brain aneurysm, informs a study completed by the researchers from the Dutch University Medical Center.
Statistics show that 2% of the world population has at least one aneurysm, meaning dilatation of a blood vessel in the brain, due to the weakness of the arterial wall. This is usually very small and do not cause a problem, but if it increases, it could break, causing a stroke.
Although the tear risk is quite small, at any time, even routine activities that suddenly increase blood pressure can “disturb” it. Coffee and intense exercise, followed by sex, strong nose blowing, drinking cola, and moments of anger are the main risk factors, is the conclusion of the study.
Coffee is responsible for 1% of cases of the breaking of the aneurysm, while the exercise is responsible for 8% of these cases. The study was conducted on a group of 250 patients who survived ruptured aneurysm, and the questionnaire was aimed at potential 30 risk factors.
Doctors do not think that there is a need to ban patients from drinking coffee or exercising. “I’m not worried about drinking coffee and cola. The study is not deep enough to draw a dramatic conclusion”, said Dr. Stanley Barnwell, neurosurgeon.
Patients who can not be operated have to cut coffee drinking
Aneurysms usually occur around the age of 40. Hypertension, smoking, drug use, and genetic factors are responsible for their occurrence and development.
Most people do not even know that they have aneurysms until they are discovered by chance. Afterward, they should be monitored continuously.
Depending on the seriousness of the case, surgery might be recommended, which means that patients will not have to give up coffee for a long time or make other changes. Some people can not support such an intervention, and are forced to make changes in lifestyle.