Dorothy FarrarBrain haemorrhage
A cerebral hemorrhage is an injury caused by head injuries to blood vessels between the skull and the brain or directly in the brain. The leaking blood leads to a pressure that damages nerve tracts and, in the worst case, can lead to death.
What is a cerebral hemorrhage?
A cerebral hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel in the brain or between the brain and skull ruptures, causing harmful pressure caused by the bleeding. A cerebral hemorrhage can be triggered by a blow to the head or similar.
The fluid between the brain and the skull (cerebrospinal fluid) cannot then slow down the impact and the brain bumps into the bone. Although the impact may have been minor and only cause temporary dizziness, the resulting cerebral hemorrhage can be life-threatening.
Causes
A cerebral hemorrhage is usually caused by trauma caused by an accident and injury to the head. Even just bumping the head can lead to cerebral hemorrhage, especially in the elderly. Three different hematomas usually occur on the brain:In a subdural hematoma, the three upper layers of the brain are injured. The resulting bleeding grows and causes pressure on the brain that slowly decreases consciousness and can lead to death. Symptoms can occur immediately or drag on for days and weeks.
An epidural hematoma is triggered by a ruptured artery between the bone and the brain. This bleeding also increases the pressure on the brain. Those affected become dizzy or faint and need immediate help.
An intraparenchymal hematoma causes bleeding in the brain itself and can permanently damage the brain.
Symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of concussion:
Depending on the degree of injury, signs of cerebral hemorrhage become immediately apparent or take days or weeks to appear. Immediately after the accident and injury, the person concerned may not notice any effects. But over time, the pressure on the brain increases. The following symptoms may include: increasing headache; Vomit; Vertigo; Confusion; pupils of different sizes; weak limbs on only one half of the body; rising blood pressure.
In the case of a head injury, in connection with the listed symptoms, an emergency room should be visited immediately. Even if the person feels good after the injury, he should tell a colleague or friend about it and ask him to keep an eye on him.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a cerebral hemorrhage can be difficult because many sufferers appear unharmed after the injury has occurred. However, after the signs and symptoms listed above become apparent and the doctor suspects a cerebral hemorrhage, the following methods can be used for diagnosis. Computed Tomography takes detailed pictures of the inside of the brain so that the doctor can identify possible signs of injury. A similar but less frequently used procedure is Magnetic Resonance Imaging . Instead of X-rays , magnetic and radio waves are used here to take pictures of the brain. In both cases, the patient is in a kind of long tube during the recording.
Complications
A cerebral hemorrhage is often associated with serious consequences. There is a risk of significant neurological failures and clouding of consciousness. If the cerebral hemorrhage triggers vascular spasms, there is a risk of insufficient supply to the brain tissue. This in turn can lead to an ischemic Stroke . The blood that comes out of the cerebral vessels sometimes narrows the spaces through which the brain fluid (liquor) flows. It can happen that the fluid accumulates in the brain. Doctors speak of hydrocephalus in such cases). In some people, a cerebral hemorrhage also leads to Abnormal Heart Rhythms . There is also an increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
The effects of a cerebral hemorrhage are manifold. They can become noticeable through disorientation, attention disorders, learning disorders and memory problems. For some people, the occurrence of epileptic seizures is also a possibility. The same applies to spasms or regulatory disorders.
The conceivable consequences of a cerebral hemorrhage also include swallowing disorders, disturbances of perception and loss of the visual field. In the worst case, there is a risk of paralysis of the cardiovascular system, falling into a coma and ultimately even death of the person concerned. Some patients may need to be placed in an induced coma. Because long-term ventilation must be carried out in a coma, there is a risk of pneumonia. In addition, nerve damage to the limbs, muscle atrophy and disorders of the cerebrospinal fluid circulation can occur.
treatment and therapy
Smaller subdural hematomas may not need to be removed because they cause only minor cerebral hemorrhage and can be prevented from enlarging with appropriate medication. In many cases, however, a brain hemorrhage requires surgery to remove the fluid pressing on the brain.
If the blood pool can be pinpointed, a hole is drilled in the skull and the fluid is suctioned out. In the case of more complex injuries, it may also be necessary to open the skull bone over a large area. Medications are taken for up to a year after surgery to prevent postoperative cramps. Amnesia , disturbances in attention, trouble sleeping , and headaches may persist for a while and are normal side effects of the surgery.
Healing from a treated cerebral hemorrhage can take time and may not be complete. Most of the healing process takes place in the first six months. In children, the injury usually heals faster and more extensively than in adults.
Prevention
In order to prevent cerebral hemorrhage, the following instructions should be observed. Sports and movements that have an increased risk of head injury should always be performed with a helmet. These include, for example, contact sports, cycling, motorcycling, skiing, horseback riding, skating, skateboarding, snowboarding, etc.Especially when driving a car, you should always make sure that you and the passengers and children are wearing your seat belt. The risk of head injuries while driving is particularly high.
Children in particular must be protected from injury. So you should pay attention to suitable, fixed child seats. Table edges and corners can also be secured with appropriate elements. Stairs should be cordoned off for small children to prevent falls.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.