Any type of abnormal bleeding within or around the brain is classified as a condition called cerebral hemorrhage. Also called an intracerebral hemorrhage, this condition can occur for a variety of reasons, including a head injury, aneurysm or high blood pressure. Bleeding within the brain is a serious medical emergency and can cause life-threatening symptoms that require immediate medical treatment.
Headache
Abnormal bleeding within the brain due to a cerebral hemorrhage prevents the brain from receiving adequate levels of oxygen. If this occurs, you can develop a severe, sudden headache within any region of your skull. Severe pain associated with a headache can cause additional symptoms to develop, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness or visual difficulties. Seek emergency medical care if you experience a severe headache that develops suddenly, as this symptom also can be indicative of a stroke.
Numbness
Bleeding of the brain can interfere with your brain's ability to send or receive signals from other regions of the body. If your nerve cells are unable to communicate, you can develop numbness, tingling or weakness within your face or limbs. Such symptoms may localize to only one side of the body. Depending upon the severity of bleeding, certain patients with a cerebral hemorrhage also can experience paralysis in some regions of the body.
Blurred Vision
Excessive bleeding of the brain can alter your normal vision. If you have a cerebral hemorrhage, you can develop blurred or double vision due to this condition. Such symptoms can contribute to headache, nausea or dizziness.
Cognitive Difficulties
Decreased oxygen levels within the brain due to a cerebral hemorrhage can interfere with your normal cognitive abilities. You may find it difficult to speak and may begin to slur your words. Certain people have difficulty understanding language, which can lead to significant confusion and communication difficulties. You may find that you cannot read or write normally due to this condition, health professionals at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio explain. You can develop coordination problems, which may cause you to appear unsteady while attempting to walk. Emotional problems or pronounced personality changes also can occur in patients with a cerebral hemorrhage.
Seizures
A cerebral hemorrhage can cause you to experience abnormal, uncontrollable shaking of your body--a condition known as a seizure, the Cedars-Sinai Health System reports. Such symptoms may be accompanied by muscle weakness or fainting.
Loss of Consciousness
If you have a cerebral hemorrhage, you can faint or lose consciousness. Severe bleeding of the brain can cause coma.
