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Hemorrhagic Stroke Symptoms

by Carol Gomes

Hemorrhagic stroke or brain bleeding occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. Since the brain is exceedingly sensitive to any type of bleeding, it can cause damage in no time at all. The excess blood results in the irritation and subsequent inflammation of the tissue. A mass known as a hematoma is created by the collected blood in the tissue and can put extra pressure on the brain.

Depending on the location of the burst blood vessel, brain strokes or hemorrhagic strokes can be divided into two types – intracerebral hemorrhages that occurs within the brain and subarachnoid hemorrhages where bleeding occurs in the area between the brain and the tissues that surround the brain. The most common cause of cerebral hemorrhage symptoms is high blood pressure that causes the walls of the blood vessels to literally crack under pressure. Other causes of hemorrhagic stroke include:

  • Aneurysms that cause an artery to burst
  • Abnormalities or malformations in the arteries and the veins
  • Certain types of cancers
  • Drug abuse
  • Medications such as blood thinners that increase bleeding
  • Conditions such as cerebral amyloid angiopathy that increases the risk of internal bleeding in the brain
Hemorrhagic stroke symptoms tend to occur suddenly and without any warning. Symptoms of a bleeding brain may vary depending on the location of the burst blood vessel and the amount of damage caused. Some symptoms may come and go while others may get progressively worse over time.

Common brain stroke symptoms include:

  • Change in level of consciousness where the person may suddenly become less alert and seem confused
  • Apathetic or lethargic
  • Sudden feeling of sleepiness
  • Stupor
  • Loss of consciousness or coma
  • May appear suddenly withdrawn and quiet
  • Difficulty in speaking
  • Difficulty in understanding others
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Trouble breathing
  • Inability to write or read normally
  • Severe headache that increases when lying down or when straining or coughing
  • The headache usually starts suddenly and may even wake you up from your sleep
  • Lack of coordination
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Inability to balance properly
  • Loss of fine motor skills
  • Inability to move certain parts of the body
  • Changes in mobility or (this often occurs only on one side of body)
  • Seizures
  • Decrease in sensation or unusual sensations on one side of the body
  • A tingling feeling or numbness in one side of the body
  • Disturbances in vision that may include loss of vision or decrease in vision
  • Changes in taste
  • Loss of memory
  • Vertigo
  • Clumsiness
  • Personality changes

Depending on the cause, brain stem stroke symptoms may vary as well. For example, intracerebral hemorrhages generally occur without warning but start off gradually and may intensify in severity over time. Symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage on the other hand such as headaches and loss of consciousness occur suddenly and are severe.

If any of the above symptoms are experienced, they require immediate medical attention. It is very important to get to the hospital or emergency room as quickly as soon as possible. The earlier the medical treatment is administered the better the chances of complete recovery from the stroke. Treatment usually includes the use of a breathing tube to prevent respiratory complications along with the monitoring of blood pressure and the use of drugs to control the swelling in the brain. Seizure medications and bed rest may also be necessary. If the patient has difficulty swallowing, fluids and nutrients may be administered via an intravenous tube or feeding tube. Bleeding in the brain caused by an aneurysm may require surgery. Long-term treatment for cerebral hemorrhages includes occupational, speech and physical therapy.

References:

  1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000726.htm

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.


Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
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