Brain bleeding, also known as a hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a burst blood vessel, according to The University of Maryland Medical Center. The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center adds that the bleeding can occur inside the brain, between the membranes and outer layers of the brain and between the skull. The situation in which the blood collects in the brain is called a hematoma. The bleeding causes swelling, which can put pressure on the brain. Massive damage can occur with brain bleeding; thus, rapid treatment is necessary to decrease long-term damage.
Headache
One of the first signs of brain bleeding is a sudden headache, according to Cedars-Sinai. The headache is severe and pounding, which the patient would describe as the worse headache he's ever had. The location of the headache depends on where in the brain the bleeding occurs. If the bleeding occurs in the temporal lobe the headache would be around the temples; if it occurs in the frontal lobe the headache would be around the forehead.
Loss of Function
Cedars-Sinai states that a serious symptom of brain bleeding is a loss of neurological functions; the function deteriorates slowly until the patient can no longer perform it. Examples of functions affected by brain bleeding are movement, speech and vision. The patient may also experience weakness and may have confusion. In severe cases, the patient can lose consciousness.
Other Signs
Another sign of brain bleeding is a seizure, which is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Symptoms of a seizure are loss of muscle control, changes in vision and consciousness, a metallic taste in the mouth and muscle tension, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cedars-Sinai adds that the patient may also experience nausea or vomiting with brain bleeding.
