A brain hemorrhage, also called an intracerebral hemorrhage, is a result of a ruptured blood vessel in the head with massive bleeding. Brain hemorrhaging can occur in any part of the brain, and the location determines which symptoms are experienced. The bleeding from the hemorrhage builds up either in the brain tissue or in the space between the brain and the brain's protective membranes.
Location
If the brain hemorrhage occurs in only one of the hemispheres, it is classified as a lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. However, if other brain structures are affected by the hemorrhage, it is known as a deep intracerebral hemorrhage. Brain structures that are at risk of a deep intracerebral hemorrhage include the thalamus, cerebellum, pons and basal ganglia.
Causes
Multiple medical conditions can cause a brain hemorrhage. Injury to the head and brain, such as through a traumatic brain injury, can result in a hemorrhage. Conditions in the brain that relate to blood flow also cause brain hemorrhages, like aneurysms, vascular malformations and high blood pressure. In addition, amyloid angiopathy, a condition where protein is deposited along your blood vessels in your brain, can also cause a brain hemorrhage.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a brain hemorrhage depend on which part of the brain is affected by the hemorrhage. One of the most serious symptoms is a change in consciousness, which can vary in severity: the patient can range from being withdrawn and lethargic to unconsciousness and comatose. Seizures are also a dangerous symptom that can occur, especially if the patient has never had a seizure before. Vision can also be affected, with symptoms like double vision, blurred vision, decreased vision and uncontrollable eye movements. Other symptoms include abnormal sense of taste, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, difficulty reading and writing, headaches, loss of coordination and balance, movement problems, tremors, nausea, vomiting, sensation changes, numbness and tingling.
