Brain bleeds happen when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures or leaks, allowing blood to collect in areas where it can raise pressure on brain tissue. They are a type of stroke and can be life-threatening, so urgent evaluation is important. Key causes
- Head trauma: Falls, car accidents, sports injuries or any blow to the head can rupture vessels.
- High blood pressure (hypertension): Chronic high pressure weakens vessel walls, increasing spontaneous bleeding risk.
- Aneurysm rupture: A weakened area in a vessel wall can bulge and burst, often causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs): Congenital abnormal connections between arteries and veins that can rupture.
- Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA): Amyloid deposits in vessel walls, common in older adults, increasing lobar hemorrhage risk.
- Brain tumors: Tumor vascularity or treatment-related bleeding can cause intracranial hemorrhage.
- Blood clotting disorders and anticoagulant use: Hemophilia, platelet disorders, liver disease, or medications that affect clotting can raise bleeding risk.
- Alcohol and certain drugs: Intense elevations in blood pressure or vascular stress from substances can contribute.
- Other medical conditions: Liver disease, certain infections, or vascular inflammation can raise bleeding risk.
What symptoms to watch for
- Sudden severe headache
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Trouble speaking, understanding speech, or vision problems
- Dizziness, loss of balance, or sudden trouble walking
- Confusion or decreased consciousness
- Seizures
Immediate steps
- If you or someone else shows these signs, call emergency services right away.
- Do not drive yourself to the hospital; EMS can begin life-saving care en route.
- If you’re on blood thinners, inform the responders about the medication.
Diagnosis and treatment (overview)
- Imaging: CT or MRI to locate the bleed and determine type.
- Acute management: Stabilization of breathing, circulation, and pressure; reversal of anticoagulation if applicable; blood pressure control; neurosurgical assessment for possible intervention (e.g., clot removal, aneurysm clipping or coiling, drain placement) depending on bleed type and size.
- Causes addressed: Treatment of underlying conditions (e.g., aneurysm repair, AVM treatment, tumor management, management of infections or liver disease).
If you want, I can tailor this to a specific context (e.g., adults vs children, suspected subarachnoid vs intracerebral hemorrhage, or explaining differences between hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke).
