When a patient has a brain hemorrhage, he has bleeding in the brain. Cedars-Sinai notes that with a brain hemorrhage, the bleeding can occur in the brain, between the skull and brain, and in between the brain's covering. The Merck Manual Professional Edition states that in half of brain hemorrhage patients with large hemorrhages, death occurs. Numerous conditions can cause a brain hemorrhage, such as a head injury or ruptured blood vessel.
Changes in Consciousness
With a brain hemorrhage, the symptoms start suddenly, causing changes to the patients' mental state. As a result, patients have changes in consciousness. The Cleveland Clinic states that brain hemorrhage patients may become apathetic, meaning they do not show emotional responses. Patients may become lethargic or sleepy after the brain hemorrhage. Some patient may enter a stupor, in which they become unresponsive. In severe brain hemorrhage cases, patients lose consciousness and enter a coma. The Merck Manual Professional Edition notes that consciousness returns to survivors of a brain hemorrhage.
Headaches
A brain hemorrhage causes patients to have sudden headaches. These headaches can become severe and occur when patients are doing an activity, such as working or walking. Not all brain hemorrhage patients have this symptom. The Merck Manual Professional Edition notes that in elderly patients, the headaches may be mild or may not occur at all.
Muscular Problems
After the onset of the brain hemorrhage, patients may have problems moving. For example, the Cleveland Clinic states that paralysis can occur, particularly on one side of the body. Areas of the body affected by the paralysis include the arms, legs and face. Patients may have changes in sensation that affect their abilities to move, such as sudden numbness, weakness or tingling. A brain hemorrhage also affects patients' coordination and balance. The muscular problems can result in difficulties swallowing.
Nausea and Vomiting
During a brain hemorrhage, patients may feel ill. For example, Cedars-Sinai notes that a brain hemorrhage may cause nausea and vomiting.
Seizures
The brain hemorrhage may disrupt the electrical activity in the brain, resulting in seizures. The Merck Manual Professional Edition states that two types of seizures can occur with a brain hemorrhage: focal seizures and generalized seizures. With a focal seizure, the electrical disruption occurs in a small part of the brain, and stays on one hemisphere of the brain. A generalized seizure, however, affects both hemispheres.
Language Problems
If the brain hemorrhage affects the language areas of the brain, patients can have problems with various aspects of language. For example, the Cleveland Clinic notes that patients can have issues with written language, affecting their abilities to read and write. If the hemorrhage affects the temporal lobe, the part of the brain located around the ears, patients can have problems understanding language. A brain hemorrhage can also affect patients' speech, resulting in slurring or confusing speech.
