A brain hemorrhage is bleeding in the brain or between the brain tissue and the skull. It develops due to an artery rupture in the brain. Bleeding in the brain is also known as cerebral hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and intracranial hemorrhage. The condition requires immediate medical attention, making it important to recognize signs as soon as possible. Factors like injuries and existing health conditions can increase the risk of a brain bleed.

Types
There are different types of brain hemorrhages determined by the location of bleeding:

Intracerebral hemorrhage: The bleeding develops inside the brain.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage: The bleeding develops in the space between the membranes of the brain and the brain itself

Subdural hemorrhage: The bleeding occurs above the brain and below the inner layer of the dura

Epidural hemorrhage: Bleed develops between the brain and the skull

Causes
Brain bleeds can be caused by a congenital condition or other health concerns. Some of the common causes of a hemorrhage are:

Brain tumors: The thin-walled blood vessels in a tumor are likely to rupture and bleed.

Head injuries: This is one of the most common reasons for bleeding in the brain.

Aneurysm: Here, the blood vessel walls weaken and might burst and bleed into the brain. This can even cause a stroke.

High blood pressure: This is a chronic condition that weakens the walls of blood vessels weak. If this condition is left untreated, it can cause brain hemorrhages.

Blood vessel abnormalities: Abnormalities in blood vessels can make them weak and more likely to rupture.

Amyloid angiopathy: This is an abnormality where the blood vessel walls can weaken either due to age or high blood pressure. The condition can cause small and unnoticed bleeds before a large one happens.

Atherosclerosis: This refers to plaque buildup in the arteries.

Symptoms
The symptoms of brain hemorrhage can vary from person to person, depending on the severity of the bleeding, its location, and the tissues affected. Symptoms develop suddenly and may become worse quickly. Some common symptoms of a brain hemorrhage are:

• Nausea
• Lethargy and reduced alertness
• Difficulty writing, swallowing, and coordinating
• Severe and sudden headache
• Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs
• Changes in vision
• A diminished sense of taste
• Loss of balance
• Seizures without a history
• Loss of consciousness
• Trouble speaking and understanding speech
• Difficulty controlling motor movements

Complications
A brain bleed can cause health complications like:

• Memory loss
• Vision loss
• Paralysis
• Personality changes
• Issues with emotions
• Numbness in some parts of the body

The complications emerge because the bleeding does not allow the nerve cells to communicate with the rest of the body and resume normal functioning.

Treatment options
If one notices any of the above-mentioned symptoms, they should immediately seek treatment. The doctor will determine the exact cause and locate the part of the brain that is affected, depending on the signs. The doctor may run a few imaging tests, like a CT scan, eye exam, neurological exam, and MRI, to examine the bleeding. A spinal tap can make things worse, so it is usually not performed. The treatment plan for cerebral hemorrhage depends on the cause, location, and extent of the bleeding. To control swelling and prevent further bleeding, the doctor can recommend the following options:

Surgery: This is performed to drain the blood from the brain. Further, removing the fluid that surrounds the brain makes room for the hematoma to expand in a way that brain cells are not damaged.

Therapy: The doctor might suggest treatments that can help one strengthen and regain the brain functions that are affected due to the hemorrhage. One may have to take up speech, occupational, and physical therapy as part of the treatment.

Prevention
One can reduce the risk of a brain hemorrhage in the following ways-

• If dealing with high blood pressure, one should follow a healthy food and exercise regimen and understand the side effects of the prescriptions they take. One should also manage their blood pressure to lower the risk of a brain bleed.
• Practicing caution while driving to protect the head from injury is a key preventive measure.
• If one is affected by an aneurysm, they should consider treatment options like surgery to lower the risk of a brain hemorrhage.
• When taking prescriptions that affect the consistency of blood, one should get regular checkups to check the blood’s consistency.

Some conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, can increase the risk of a brain bleed. Managing such conditions, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and practicing caution while engaging in sports, driving, and cycling can help one prevent brain hemorrhage.