A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a fragile blood vessel ruptures in the brain, causing bleeding at the site, resulting in a buildup of blood and consequently increased pressure in the area, preventing blood from flowing through it.
Decreased blood flow also results in a reduction in oxygen supply, which ultimately results in the death of brain cells in this region, which can lead to serious and permanent injury.
- In case of suspected stroke.
- With symptoms such as loss of strength on one side of the body.
- Difficulty speaking or severe headaches.
- It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid serious and permanent sequelae.
Symptoms that may occur during a hemorrhagic stroke episode include
In the presence of these symptoms, medical care should be called immediately. Learn how to initiate first aid in the event of a stroke.
The most common causes of hemorrhagic stroke are very high blood pressure, which can cause blood vessel rupture, aneurysms or other blood vessel malformations in the brain, which have an increased risk of rupture or bleeding, especially when their size increases over time. or improper use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet aggregators, which may increase the risk of bleeding.
In addition, although more rare, a hemorrhagic stroke can also be caused by diseases that interfere with blood clotting, such as hemophilia and thrombocythemia, inflammation of small brain vessels, degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines and brain tumors, which increases the risk of bleeding.
While hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a rupture of a vessel in the brain, which decreases the amount of blood that is transported to brain cells, ischemic stroke occurs when a clot clogs a vessel and disrupts blood flow from that point.
Although they occur differently, both types of stroke cause similar symptoms. Learn how to differentiate between trait types.
Diagnosis of a hemorrhagic stroke is made by assessing symptoms and performing a CT scan, which allows to visualize the cerebral hemorrhage. In addition, this diagnostic method is useful for detecting ARTEriovenous malformations, aneurysms and tumors, which are risk factors for stroke.
Treatment should be done as soon as possible to avoid permanent sequelae, which initially involve controlling bleeding and relieving pressure in the brain, as well as administering medications to control blood pressure.
If bleeding is controlled with initial relief measures, the person should only be monitored and then physically physiotherapy. However, if bleeding is not controlled, surgery may be needed to repair the blood vessel and stop bleeding.
Some steps can be taken to prevent stroke, such as blood pressure control, avoiding spikes, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, and making rational use of medications, especially blood thinners that, if taken incorrectly, can increase the risk of developing a stroke.