After a brain hemorrhage, if the victim doesn’t receive emergency treatment right away it could be deadly. Any bleeding on the brain can be a life-threatening condition, and that’s why it’s critical that you understand brain hemorrhage symptoms and the treatment options.
When a brain bleed happens, it can result in damage to the brain’s delicate tissue. Bleeding in the brain occurs internally. This can make detection difficult for caregivers, but they still have the responsibility to assess anyone who sustained a head injury for signs of bleeding in the brain.
Brain Hemorrhage FAQs
If you or a loved one may have experienced bleeding of the brain, you likely have many questions about what will happen next. The following frequently asked questions will cover the basics of brain hemorrhages.
Symptoms of a Brain Hemorrhage
Treatment Options for a Brain Hemorrhage
How Serious Is a Brain Hemorrhage?
What Happens When You Have a Brain Hemorrhage?
Can a Brain Hemorrhage Heal Itself?
Can You Survive a Brain Hemorrhage?
How Long Can You Live With a Brain Hemorrhage?
The pain from a brain hemorrhage may be the first sign that something is wrong
Symptoms of a Brain Hemorrhage
If your loved one is showing any of the following signs, don’t wait before you take action. They need to be immediately evaluated for a possible brain bleed.
- Facial weakness
- Tingling or paralysis on one side
- Severe headache
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty understanding
- Slurred speech and difficulty talking
- Problems with eyesight
These initial symptoms of bleeding on the brain generally develop as the pressure placed on your brain increases. As more blood fills the space between the brain and skull or the brain itself, other symptoms may present themselves, including:
- Unconsciousness
- Lethargy
- Seizures
Treatment Options for a Brain Hemorrhage
When a brain bleed is suspected, the first thing you’ll need to do is get the individual to the doctor. Next, a CT scan of the brain verifies the existence of a brain bleed, Finally, an MRI locates the bleed. In some cases, a spinal tap, blood tests, and an EKG may also be ordered.
The type of treatment you will receive when a brain hemorrhage is diagnosed will depend on where the bleed is, whether or not it stops on its own, and your general health. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the following are immediate treatment options for brain hemorrhages:
- Surgery for intracranial hemorrhage
- Medication to control anxiety or blood pressure
- Seizure medication
- Medication to regulate blood pressure
- Pain killers
- Delivery of nutrients and fluids
Long-term treatment options include physical, occupational, and speech therapy to recover as much function as possible. To reduce the likelihood that you’ll experience another hemorrhage in the future, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes.
How Serious Is a Brain Hemorrhage?
A brain bleed is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. If an individual has a persistent headache or loses consciousness, it’s critical to get it checked out. A nursing home abuse lawyer will advise you that this is a critical step because it creates a medical record that you may need to use for evidence in court.
Unfortunately, because the bleeding occurs inside the brain, or in the space between the brain and skull, it can go undiagnosed. This is more likely when a person’s caregivers are inattentive or negligent.
This CT scan of a brain hemorrhage shows how serious a traumatic brain injury can be.
What Happens When You Have a Brain Hemorrhage?
According to informed health.org, when blood vessels inside the skull are damaged, it can lead to bleeding. This will increase pressure on the brain tissue because the brain has a limited amount of space inside the skull. In addition to pressure, this can cause blood clotting issues and damaged blood vessels (Brain Aneurysm, 2018).
One immediate effect a victim of a brain bleed may notice is a severe headache. If it isn’t treated, it can lead to unconsciousness, respiratory affect, and irregular heartbeat. In the most serious cases, the victim may require nursing care due to devastating consequences like paralysis.
In this video, Dr. Rohan Moftakhar, Chief of Neurosurgery at Palmetto Health Richland, explains what happens to the brain during a hemorrhagic stroke.
Can a Brain Hemorrhage Heal Itself?
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It is possible for a brain bleed to heal on its own, but that doesn’t mean it’s likely. Our nursing home neglect lawyers in Chicago recommend that you never wait to see what happens if you suspect you or someone you love has had a brain hemorrhage. When bleeding of the brain does not resolve on its own, surgery may be necessary to prevent or reduce brain damage.
CT scans of brain hemorrhage can show signs of healing.
Can You Survive a Brain Hemorrhage?
The chances of surviving a brain bleed depend on the location and size of the bleed. While most people who experience a brain hemorrhage will survive, they may require therapy to learn basic skills like walking and speech. They may also lose their ability to perform everyday tasks.
How Long Can You Live With a Brain Hemorrhage?
According to Harvard Health, 30% to 60% of patients with an intracerebral hemorrhage die (Hemorrhagic Stroke, 2019). However, additional circumstances and the cause of the brain bleed can affect their survival, such as a brain hemorrhage in a premature infant or an elderly patient.
According to a study published in the Journal of Stroke, patients suffering from an intracerebral hemorrhage, a severe type of stroke, have a fatality rate of 40% at one month and 54% at one year (An, S. et al, 2017).
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When someone is diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage that was caused by negligence, or if a doctor misses an intracranial hemorrhage diagnosis, the victim and their family can file a lawsuit to cover the costs of treatment. In addition to this, if your elderly loved one was injured in a nursing home due to a caregiver’s mistake, you may want to speak to a nursing home abuse lawyer.
References
An, S., Kim, T., & Yoon, B. (2017, January). Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Clinical Features of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: An Update.
Brain aneurysm: What happens during a brain hemorrhage? (2018, November 29).
Hemorrhagic Stroke. (2019, February).
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