Brain Hemorrhage
A brain hemorrhage, also known as intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral bleeding, is a type of stroke caused by bleeding within or around the brain tissue. This medical emergency occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to leak into the brain parenchyma or surrounding spaces, causing damage through increased pressure, direct tissue injury, and disruption of normal brain function.
What is it?
Brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke that occurs when blood vessels in or around the brain rupture and bleed. Unlike ischemic stroke (caused by blocked blood vessels), hemorrhagic stroke results from bleeding that damages brain tissue and increases intracranial pressure. Brain hemorrhages are classified by location: intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding within brain tissue), subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space between the brain and surrounding membrane), subdural hematoma (bleeding between the brain and dura), and epidural hematoma (bleeding between the skull and dura).
Brain hemorrhages account for approximately 10-15% of all strokes but are responsible for a disproportionate number of stroke deaths. They occur at a rate of about 24.6 per 100,000 people annually. The most common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage is chronic high blood pressure, which weakens small blood vessels over time. Other causes include aneurysm rupture, arteriovenous malformations, head trauma, blood thinning medications, bleeding disorders, brain tumors, drug abuse (particularly cocaine and amphetamines), and amyloid angiopathy in elderly patients. Risk increases with age, with highest rates in people over 55.
Important to Know
Brain hemorrhage is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Common symptoms include sudden severe headache, sudden weakness or numbness (particularly on one side), difficulty speaking or understanding speech, vision problems, loss of balance or coordination, difficulty swallowing, confusion or loss of consciousness, and seizures. The mortality rate for brain hemorrhage ranges from 40-50%, with about half of deaths occurring within the first two days. Treatment depends on the type, location, and size of hemorrhage and may include emergency measures to reduce intracranial pressure, blood pressure management, reversal of blood thinners, and sometimes surgical evacuation of the blood clot. Recovery can be prolonged and may involve significant rehabilitation. Prevention focuses on controlling blood pressure, avoiding blood thinners when not medically necessary, treating underlying vascular abnormalities, and avoiding substance abuse.