What is an intracerebral hemorrhage?
An intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and causes bleeding inside the brain. This is an emergency condition that requires immediate treatment.
Causes
Causes of intracerebral hemorrhage can include:
- Bleeding aneurysm
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
- Artery wall breaking open
Symptoms
Symptoms of intracerebral hemorrhage include sudden:
- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
- Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Vision problems in one or both eyes
- Difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination or severe headache with no known cause
Treatment
Because of its life-threatening nature, it is critical to treat an intracerebral hemorrhage as quickly as possible.
The first step is to located the cause of brain bleeding, then control it. Surgery may be necessary.
