According to Washington University's Stroke Center, brain bleeding or hemorrhaging is a life threatening medical condition that can occur within or outside of the brain between the scalp and the layers covering the brain. The symptoms in these instances can differ. The immediate symptoms are also different than long-term symptoms. Several risk factors are associated with brain hemorrhaging. These include high blood pressure, weak blood vessels, and drug abuse. The risk increases with age since blood vessels grow weaker as the body ages. If you have symptoms and think that you might suffer from brain bleeding, call 911 immediately.
Intracerebral Hemorrhage Symptoms
Intracerebral hemorrhage, or bleeding inside the brain, most often results when a small artery is burst as a result of high blood pressure. Drug abuse, especially cocaine and amphetamines, puts you at a higher risk for bleeding inside the brain. This type of bleeding begins suddenly, causing immediate symptoms. According to a study by Dr. J. Linn and fellow researchers, published in the "Journal of Clinical Neuroradiology" in March 2009, approximately 50 percent of patients report that the first symptom they experienced was a severe headache. In most cases, the patients had been physically active when the symptoms started. Other common symptom are nausea and vomiting that can start very quickly, even within seconds after the start of the bleeding. Patients may have seizures or lose consciousness. Sometimes a patient may experience symptoms, such as paralysis, or loss of sensation in one side of the body. People may be unable to speak or become confused and their vision may be impaired or even lost.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Symptoms
According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, a subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding outside of the brains into the layers covering the brain or into the space between these layers and the brain. This type of bleeding is usually due to a head injury. Just like the bleeding inside of the brain, bleeding outside of it also causes severe headaches. Problems in vision are commonly reported and might include eye pain, double vision, or loss of peripheral vision. Many patients lose consciousness, feel sleepy or confused.
Delayed Symptoms
According to Washington University's Stroke Center, the symptoms of a brain bleeding vary depending on the location of the bleeding and its severity. If the bleeding is severe, the symptoms typically appear suddenly, but if the bleeding is not severe, the symptoms may take a long time to develop and worsen. Some delayed symptoms may appear a few days after bleeding started. These might include the development of hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is a blockage of flow of the cerebral spinal fluid resulting in excessive amount of fluid in the brain. After about three to 10 days, the bleeding begins and the arteries might also spasm, resulting in a medical condition called vasospasm in which the brain does not get enough oxygen. Within 24 hours, meninges, the layers of the brain, may get irritated by the blood and fluids and cause a stiff neck, and even lower back pain. Occasionally a second rupture follows. During this time, the heart rate and breathing rates may fluctuate depending on the individual.
References
- Washington University: Internet Stroke Center
- "Journal of Clinical Neuroradiology"; Differential diagnosis of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage.; Linn, Brückmann; March 2009.
- The Brain Aneurysm Foundation: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
