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While Rajeev’s father was renewing his insurance policy, he suddenly had a sharp pain in the head, his vision blurred, and in a few seconds, he collapsed on the floor. When he was taken to the hospital, the doctors diagnosed him with a brain haemorrhage. Thankfully, he had a cashless treatment, but this life-threatening condition changed his father’s life. Such a situation might knock on anyone’s door without warning. One might not even know what haemorrhage means or how to define haemorrhage. Let us understand more about the brain’s condition in detail.
What is a Brain Haemorrhage?
People also search for what is a brain stroke. Brain haemorrhage and brain stroke medical conditions are different. While both cause damage to the brain, the cause is different. A brain stroke occurs when suddenly, brain vessels around or inside the brain burst or get blocked.
While brain haemorrhage happens when bleeding occurs in the brain, bleeding may happen in the brain tissues or between the tissue and the brain skull. It is an emergency medical condition and requires immediate treatment. A delay may lead to serious health complications or death.
Brain haemorrhage is also known as a brain bleed. There can be various causes of a brain haemorrhage. Its survival rate depends on the initial treatment provided and the intensity of the haemorrhage. Understanding the cerebral meaning helps caregivers and patients better comprehend the bleeding situation. In this article, you will learn all about brain haemorrhage, its causes and symptoms, and the brain haemorrhage treatment.
What Happens During a Brain Haemorrhage?
When a brain haemorrhage occurs, it cuts off oxygen to the brain because blood leaks into the space between two membranes. Our brain is not a muscle but a complex organ with several nerves and blood vessels. The vessels may get weak for any reason and may burst, resulting in blood leakage. It limits the oxygen and blood supply to the brain, damaging brain cells and resulting in nausea, headaches, or facial paralysis.
What are the Types of Brain Bleeds?
Brain haemorrhage may occur inside or outside the brain. Brain Bleeds, or Brain Haemorrhages occurring inside the brain, are as follows:
- Intracerebral Haemorrhage: When the bleeding occurs anywhere within the brain, it is called intracerebral haemorrhage. Mostly, it happens in the lobes, cerebellum, and brainstem.
- Intraventricular: It occurs in the ventricles, the hollow part of your brain.
Called intracranial bleeding or ic bleed, the brain haemorrhages occurring within the skull are as follows:
- Subarachnoid bleed: It is a medical emergency where the bleeding happens between your brain and the tissue that protects it.
- Subdural bleed: Here, the bleeding happens just below the dura mater.
- Epidural bleed: In this, bleeding happens between the dura mater and the skull.
Symptoms of Brain Bleed ( Brain Haemorrhage)
People may experience no brain haemorrhage symptoms until it happens. However, once there has been a condition of brain haemorrhage, the patient may experience brain bleed symptoms, such as:
- Extremely severe headache
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Blurred vision, loss of vision, or double vision
- Lethargic
- Dizziness
- Paralysis or muscle weakness on the side of the body
- Difficulty in balancing the body
- Tingling sensation in various muscles like the face, legs, or arms
- Problem in speaking or slurred speech
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Confusion
These are some of the common brain haemorrhage symptoms. People may experience one or more of these, and it is extremely important to visit a doctor if any of these symptoms occur without a known reason. The examination of the symptoms explained by the patient at the right time can save their life.
Also Read: Is Brain Surgery Covered Under Your Health Insurance?
What Causes Brain Haemorrhage?
A brain haemorrhage can occur due to an underlying condition and may also occur due to a sudden accident. Here are some of the common and known brain haemorrhage causes:
- Falls
- Car or bike accident
- Head injuries as those in sports
- Injuries due to assault or violence
Apart from accidents or injuries, brain haemorrhage can also occur due to other health problems. These may include:
- High Blood Pressure: Hypertension is one of the common causes of brain haemorrhage. Keeping the high blood pressure under control is necessary to avoid further complications.
- Brain Tumour: A brain tumour can be cancerous or non-cancerous. However, it may cause pressure on the brain tissues, which may lead to ruptures and brain bleeds.
- Bleeding Disorder: Some people may suffer bleeding disorders that may also lead to brain bleed.
- A Blood Clot: It may develop in the brain or travel to the brain from any other body part. It may cause the artery to burst and bleed.
- A Brain Aneurysm: A condition when a weak spot in blood vessels ruptures.
- Arteriovenous Malformations: It is a brain condition where arteries and veins get abnormally connected and leak.
- Amyloid Angiopathy: A condition where the amyloid protein builds up in the artery walls.
- Atherosclerosis: A condition when fatty deposits build up in the arteries.
- Drugs: High-level drugs like cocaine or excessive use of tobacco and alcohol may also lead to brain damage.
- Pregnancy Complications: Certain pregnancy conditions, like eclampsia, postpartum vasculopathy, etc., may also cause brain bleed.
What are the Risk Factors for Brain Bleed?
From newborns to adults, a brain bleed may affect anyone at any age. Physical examination of the patient is to be done as soon as possible. People with the following health conditions are at risk-
- Head trauma
- Diabetes
- High BP
- Brain tumours
- Aneurysm
- Blood vessel abnormalities
- Bleeding disorders
- Liver disease
- Alcohol consumption
- Illicit drug use
- Age
Diagnosis of Brain Haemorrhage
In order to understand what causes brain haemorrhage and the extent of the condition, the doctor will conduct an immediate diagnosis before beginning the treatment procedure. The diagnosis may include:
- Physical examination of the patient
- Examination of the symptoms explained by the patient
- CT (Computed Tomography) scan
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiogram)
- Chest X-ray
- Electroencephalogram
- Urinalysis
- Complete blood count analysis
- Spinal tap.
Treatment for Brain Haemorrhage
The brain haemorrhage treatment begins once the diagnosis is done. The brain haemorrhage recovery time highly depends on the treatment. So, beginning the treatment at the earliest is a must.
Initial Treatment
In initial treatment, the patient may have sufficient oxygen to open the breathing airways. The blood pressure level and blood circulation may also be managed.
Decompression
With the help of partial skull removal or complete opening of the skull, the blood is allowed to drain out of the brain. So, the decompression may be carried out immediately.
Craniotomy Surgery
In case of a cerebral aneurysm treatment, surgery may be carried out. A craniotomy surgery is done to seal or fill the aneurysm that has not yet ruptured. The brain haemorrhage surgery success rate may vary from one person to another.
Arteriovenous Malformation Surgery
A surgery is carried out to remove the arteriovenous malformation in case it has not ruptured yet. The surgery is done using computer-guided radiation and then the blood vessels are sealed off.
Medications
Not all brain haemorrhages may require surgery. Some may be prescribed certain medications like those to manage the blood pressure level. Anti-anxiety or ent-epileptic drugs may also be prescribed. Apart from these, medicines for stool management and headaches may also be given.
Safety Precautions against Brain Haemorrhage
Certain incidents that may cause brain haemorrhage may not always be avoidable. However, you can definitely stay cautious and take certain precautions to keep off the chances of brain haemorrhage occurring due to health issues. These may include:
- A controlled blood pressure level
- A healthy cholesterol level
- A healthy weight
- Stop smoking and alcohol intake
- A healthy diet
- Daily physical exercise
- Controlled blood sugar level
What are the After-effects of a Brain Bleed?
Brain haemorrhage recovery time can be quite long for some people and usually depends on the extent of damage, the treatment received, and the overall health of the patient. Some of the after-effects of a brain bleed may include:
- Weakness of muscles
- Mental weakness for some time
- Paralysis of one side or certain body parts
- Loss of vision or other vision problems
- Problem swallowing and eating properly
- Speech problems like difficulty speaking, writing, or understanding what is written
- Memory loss
- Lack of judgment power of the brain
- Seizures
- Migraine
- Emotional turbulences
- Confusion
- Headaches
With regular medications, as prescribed, one may gradually get better. However, initially, it requires the patient to be careful, and the family must help the patient recover fast.
Concluding Lines
What are the chances of surviving a brain bleed? Well, depending on the overall health problems and the treatment, the survival rate is dependent. So, the quicker you get the initial medical attention, the higher the chance of survival. Some people may not even make it to the initial bleeding and may pass away before receiving any medical aid. However, many people have recovered well after the hospitalisation process. Post-surgery care plays a significant role in helping the patient recover.
Additionally, to take care of the incurred expenses, invest in a comprehensive health insurance plan today and stay covered!
Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter's discretion.
