Brain hemorrhage is a serious brain condition where bleeding occurs from a ruptured blood vessel. If the brain hemorrhage is localized to one hemisphere of the brain, it is called a lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. However, a deep intracerebral hemorrhage, another type of brain hemorrhage, affects other structures in the brain and can cause more damage. Signs of a hemorrhage depend on which part of the brain has been affected.
Consciousness
If the brain hemorrhage has been caused by a traumatic brain injury, any change in consciousness is a dangerous sign. The level of consciousness varies, depending on the severity of the injury. According to the National Institutes of Health, changes in consciousness can be broken up into three degrees of severity: the first level is if the patient is withdrawn or comes across as apathetic; a second level is if the patient is sleepy or lethargic; and the last level is if the patient has become unconscious or comatose.
Movement
If the brain hemorrhage occurs on a part of the brain that controls motor actions, the patient's movement, coordination and balance can be affected. Patients may have trouble moving on their own, coordinating complex movements or maintaining their balance. Tremors are also a sign of a brain hemorrhage.
Sensation
Sensation can also be altered by a brain hemorrhage. Examples include numbness or tingling, feeling abnormal or decreased sensations anywhere in the body and facial paralysis. The changes in sensation can be localized to one region if the hemorrhage is also localized in one hemisphere, or it could be more widespread if the hemorrhage has affected other brain structures.
Vision
If the brain hemorrhage is located in the vision region of the brain, the patient's vision can be affected. Types of vision changes that are signs of a brain hemorrhage include double vision, uncontrolled eye movements, decreased vision, eyelid drooping and uneven pupil size.
Additional Symptoms
Other symptoms of a brain hemorrhage include an abnormal sense of taste, headaches, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting and seizures. In addition, a brain hemorrhage can affect a person's language abilities, impairing his ability to read, write, speak and understanding spoken language.
