CLEVELAND -- U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones suffered an aneurysm while driving her car in Cleveland Heights. She was taken to the hospital after officers discovered that she was in "obvious medical distress."

She is listed in critical condition at Huron Hospital.

University Hospitals director of the Neurological Institute Dr. Warren Selman talked with NewsChannel5's Lee Jordan about aneurysms.

Selman said aneurysms are balloons or blisters on the side of the blood vessel inside the brain.

He added that when an aneurysm bursts inside the brain, blood leaks inside the brain and starves it from what it needs to live.

Selman added that there are no warning signs typically although sometimes patients when experience severe headaches.

Aneurysms are also more common among women and often strike people who are between 35 and 60 years old.

Although Selman could not speak directly to Tubbs Jones condition, he said the lack of brain activity is a poor sign.

Only one-third of the people who experience aneurysms return to a regular lifestyle.

People can try avoid aneurysm by keeping their blood vessels healthy, which includes not smoking and controlling hypertension.