Causes of Hemorrhagic Strokes
Most strokes occur due to a blockage of blood flow to a part of the brain, but approximately 13% of strokes occur due to bleeding in the brain.
Long-term hypertension (high blood pressure) is a risk factor for ischemic strokes. Extremely high blood pressure, even for a short period of time, can increase the risk of hemorrhagic strokes. And sometimes the damage caused by an ischemic stroke can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke.
Other causes of hemorrhagic strokes include aneurysms and other abnormal blood vessels, trauma, and bleeding disorders.
A subarachnoid hemorrhage is a type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel that’s located in the subarachnoid space (between the meninges and the brain) bleeds. These are usually caused by a rupture of a brain aneurysm.
High Blood Pressure as a Risk Factor for Stroke
High blood pressure can significantly increase the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke. This risk is even more pronounced in the elderly, people who smoke, men, those with diabetes, and people who drink alcohol.
High blood pressure can damage the fragile walls of small arteries inside the deeper areas of the brain. The areas most commonly damaged by these types of strokes are the brainstem, the internal capsule, and the cerebellum.
In some cases, the bleeding caused by high blood pressure may be large enough that blood spills into the brain’s ventricles, causing an intraventricular hemorrhage, a condition that can result in life-threatening hydrocephalus.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke vary depending on the location and size of the bleeding and are often similar to the symptoms of an ischemic stroke.
Symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke can include:
A severe headacheWeakness of the face, arm, and/or leg on one side of the bodyNumbness in the face, arm, and/or leg on one side of the bodyInability to understand spoken language or inability to speakInability or difficulty writing or readingVertigo and/or gait imbalanceNausea or vomitingDouble vision
In general, a hemorrhagic stroke usually causes severe head pain and dizziness, but in some instances, these symptoms might not occur.
In rare cases, the bleeding caused by high blood pressure is so profuse that it leads to a rapid increase in intracranial pressure, which causes more serious consequences, such as unresponsiveness, inability to move, or coma.
Diagnosis
An imaging test to identify bleeding in the brain is the most reliable way to diagnose a hemorrhagic stroke. The first test performed usually is a head CT, which is a rapid and reliable way to rule out bleeding in the brain.
When bleeding is found, but the source of the bleeding is not clear, other tests such as a cerebral angiogram or an MRI of the brain with contrast may be necessary. These tests help to diagnose other causes of bleeding, such as an arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm, amyloid angiopathy, or brain tumor.
Treatment
The treatment of bleeding in the brain starts with stabilization and diagnosis. This is because an enlarging bleed in the brain can progress rapidly and may produce severe consequences.
Usually, blood pressure has to be controlled in order to prevent further bleeding. Other possible interventions depend on factors such as the size of the bleeding, the severity of the symptoms, and whether the interventions being considered can be expected to make a difference in the overall outcome.
In some cases, the bleeding must be surgically evacuated immediately, because it can produce pressure on the brain. In other cases, the risks of surgery clearly outweigh the potential benefits, leading doctors and families to refrain from further treatment.
In the most severe cases, bleeding can cause so much damage to the brain that surgical intervention is futile, and brain death may result, with or without intervention.
A Word From Verywell
Moderately high blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke. It is important to maintain a blood pressure that follows recommended guidelines.
Extremely high blood pressure can lead to more serious strokes. The most common causes of extremely high blood pressure include untreated hypertension, severe illness, and drug use.
Taking care of your health can go a long way in preventing serious medical emergencies such as hemorrhagic stroke.
