Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke is one of the two main types of stroke. It occurs when the flow of blood to an area of the brain is blocked, which can cause the death of brain cells and brain tissue. Blood carries oxygen and other nutrients that the brain depends on, so when the blood flow stops, certain parts of the brain aren't getting the nutrients and oxygen they need; thus, they die. As a result, certain functions of the body that are controlled by those particular nerve cells may lose their ability to perform. In many cases, stroke causes death.

Specifically, hemorrhagic stroke is caused when blood vessels in the brain rupture and begin to bleed into the surrounding tissue. This bleeding compresses other blood vessels that are nearby and causes the surrounding tissue to not get oxygen. This type of stroke usually affects a big area of the brain and is much more severe than ischemic stroke. The chance of death after a hemorrhagic stroke is high. Hemorrhagic stroke is less common than ischemic stroke, but it has a higher risk of death. There are certain kinds of hemorrhagic strokes, including intracranial hemorrhages, subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, and intracerebral hemorrhage.

Intracranial Hemorrhage
An intracranial hemorrhage happens when blood vessel between the brain and the skull break. This can develop spontaneously due to a weakness or defect in a vessel or artery, or it can result from traumatic brain injury.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage develops in an area of the brain that contains major blood vessels. This kind of hemorrhage is usually caused by a head injury.

Epidural Hematoma
Epidural hematoma is when blood collects in the space between the skull and the outer layer of the brain.

Subdural Hematoma
Subdural hematoma develops when blood collects in the space between the middle layer of the brain and the dura layer, which covers the spinal cord. This condition can become a chronic condition, especially for the elderly. A hard and sudden impact to the skull may cause subdural hematoma, which may cause death.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Intracerebral hemorrhage occurs in blood vessels that are in the cerebrum, brain stem, cerebellum, or the spinal cord.

Symptoms of Hemorrhagic Stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke is a major cause of permanent disability or even death. It is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. The following symptoms of stroke are warning signs that let you know if you may be experiencing a stroke. If these symptoms happen suddenly, please seek emergency medical attention.
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, and leg on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion
- Sudden loss of vision or dimness, particularly in one eye
- Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls
- Difficulty with walking and loss of balance or coordination
- Severe headache without knowing why
- Difficulty speaking or understanding words spoken to you
- Temporary strokes that may occur within days or even months before a major stroke, caused by temporary blood blockage to the brain by clots, lasting only a few minutes or a few hours
- Inability to recognize familiar things
- Vertigo (sensation of the world spinning around)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Randomly sleepy, lethargic, or even unconscious

Hemorrhagic Stroke Treatment
When treating hemorrhagic stroke, blood pressure must be brought to a normal level and the brain must be protected from further damage by fixing the original cause of the stroke. Because hemorrhaging causes pressure on the brain, a stroke victim will be given drugs that minimize swelling of the brain tissue. Surgery is rarely recommended but may take place if other treatments are not working to help the victim.