What Is A Cerebral Haemorrhage And Why Does It Occur?

A cerebral haemorrhage is a serious situation that can endanger a person’s life. It consists of a hemorrhage inside the brain. Because of this, other parts of the body are deprived of oxygen.

It is therefore the second leading cause of stroke. The problem is that the mortality rate for cerebral haemorrhages is still very high despite the current treatment options. In addition, deficits are common among those who manage to survive this incident.

The incidence of this disorder increases as one gets older. However, age is not the only risk factor.

Let’s take a closer look at it.

What is a cerebral haemorrhage?

A cerebral haemorrhage is, as we mentioned in the introduction,  a haemorrhage that takes place inside the brain. It usually causes a sudden occurrence of neurological defects and even coma.

This is due to lack of blood supply to other parts of the brain as the blood does not continue its journey through the blood vessels. It is important to distinguish between bleeding in the brain and bleeding in the skull.

In addition to cerebral haemorrhages, bleeding in the skull also includes other haemorrhages that take place inside the skull, but not in the parenchyma of the brain. These are, for example, bleeding in the meninges, the hard meninges, the epidural spaces and the ventricles.

Cerebral hemorrhage is one of the primary causes of stroke. In fact, experts estimate that almost 15% of all strokes are caused by this disorder. In addition, it has a high mortality rate, especially within the first few days.

Related symptoms

As we have just explained, cerebral haemorrhages are usually associated with a neurological defect that occurs suddenly. Depending on the cause of the bleeding, it can develop very quickly (within one to two hours) or more slowly. In addition, the symptoms vary depending on the affected area.

As with ischemic stroke, loss of strength in half of the body is common. In other words, the left leg and arm will be affected if the bleeding occurs in the right side of the brain.

It is common for the same side to lose sensitivity or that a tingling sensation occurs. It can also affect the ability to speak and understand languages. Some people lose sight in one eye.

Headaches, vomiting, loss of consciousness and even coma are common symptoms. Headaches and vomiting are usually associated with increased pressure in the skull due to the cerebral hemorrhage itself.

The primary causes of cerebral hemorrhage

This disorder can occur for a variety of reasons. Age is one of the most relevant factors. The incidence increases as one gets older and is higher in men than in women.

The primary underlying cause is high blood pressure. This is because the blood vessels in the brain, which are very small in size, are very sensitive to increased pressure.

Likewise  , blows to the head can trigger a cerebral hemorrhage. This is one of the reasons why it is more common in the elderly who tend to fall more often.

Another cause is cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). It is a disease that consists of the accumulation of certain proteins on the walls of the blood vessels in the brain. It causes recurrent bleeding as the blood vessels become more vulnerable.

Hemorrhagic diseases, more specifically coagulation disorders, facilitate the development of cerebral hemorrhage. In most cases, however, they are caused by the use of certain drugs such as blood-thinning drugs.

They can also affect young people. For example, the use of drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines increases the risk. Likewise, malformations in the blood vessels of the brain are a relatively common cause.

Treatment

A cerebral hemorrhage is a medical emergency. If you suffer from any of the symptoms or signs, you should seek help immediately.

The first thing the doctor does is stabilize the patient. As with other haemorrhages  , it is essential that the patient does not go into shock.

In addition, intubation is often necessary as it ensures that the patient can breathe properly. Likewise, platelet concentrate or fresh, frozen plasma may be given to stop the bleeding. It is given if the patient took blood-thinning medication.

As the MSD manual explains, vitamin K also helps reduce bleeding in these patients. In case of severe high blood pressure, medication is given to regulate the blood pressure. However, it is very sensitive as a very low blood pressure can aggravate the damage.

The patient may even need surgery, which consists of extracting accumulated blood to reduce the high pressure in the skull. Health professionals use it in cases where the bleeding has caused neurological deterioration or it affects the brainstem.

Possible complications and prognosis

As we have mentioned above, a cerebral hemorrhage has a high mortality rate. In fact, experts estimate that the mortality rate is around 40%. In addition, the people who survive it often suffer from long-term problems.

Most complications stem from the extent of the bleeding or the edema that forms around it. In addition, it is due to the damage to the brain tissues themselves caused by lack of blood supply. Patients suffer from seizures, inability to communicate and vision problems.

Likewise, individuals often have severe headaches and loss of sensation and movement. Although the prognosis is poor, it varies depending on how severe the bleeding was.

Either way, most patients will need therapy. Rehabilitation therapy can help improve speech and mobility and help the patient regain other functions.

A cerebral hemorrhage is severe

Anyone who survives this type of bleeding will need to consider certain aspects. For example, from that moment on, they will have to control their blood pressure. It is  important for them to follow a healthy lifestyle to prevent new cases.

Elderly people with high blood pressure have a high risk of suffering from bleeding. They need to minimize the risk of falls and control their medication.