A bleeding, or hemorrhagic, stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain begins to leak or ruptures. Only about 10 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes, according to MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke vary depending on where the leak occurs. The effectiveness of treatment often depends on how quickly patients receive treatment.
Causes
There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke. The New York Times Health Guide says that an intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel inside the brain bursts and spills blood into the surrounding tissue, causing damage to the cells. High blood pressure is the leading cause of intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, since it causes the small arteries of the brain to become brittle and break.
A subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when bleeding starts in the artery at or close to the surface of the brain and spills into the space between the skull and the brain's surface. This type of stroke often occurs due to a rupture of a weakened blood vessel, or aneurysm, which can develop with age or can be present at birth. After the rupture, blood vessels may begin to widen and narrow, this is called a vasospasm. MayoClinic.com says that this can cause further cellular damage and limit blood flow to the brain.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke may include difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, headache, loss of coordination and balance, nausea, vomiting, seizure and vision changes. Symptoms can also include a change in a person's alertness causing a lack of emotion, lethargy, sleepiness, unconsciousness and coma.
Treatments
Treatment for a hemorrhagic stroke involves controlling the bleeding and reducing the pressure inside the skull. During emergency treatment, patients receive medications to reduce blood pressure, reduce the brain's reaction to the bleed and prevent seizures. People who commonly take blood thinners such as warfarin or clopidogrel often receive drugs to counteract their effects to slow the bleeding. Patients may need to undergo surgery to stop the bleeding.
Physicians may perform an aneurysm clipping in which a tiny clamp is placed at the bottom of the aneurysm to keep it from bursting or leaking again. The clip will stay in place permanently. MayoClinic.com says that in cases where the bleeding occurs due to a defect called a arteriovenous malformation, physicians may attempt to remove it, if it is not too large or too deep within the brain.
Time Frame
A person has a limited time to seek help during a hemorrhagic stroke, because it can quickly become a life-threatening situation. A hemorrhagic stroke cuts off brain cells from blood flow, causing the tissues to be deprived of oxygen, according to the American Heart Association. Brain cells begin to die in as little as three to four minutes, so prompt treatment is urgent for not only patient survival but ability to recover as well.
Recovery
Recovering from a hemorrhagic stroke can often take months. Some patients may have permanent disabilities because of their stroke. Physicians will often prescribe a rehabilitation facility where patients will undergo physical, occupational and speech therapy to help them perform at a maximum level of independence, according to MayoClinic.com.
