A brain hemorrhage is a critical medical condition that has the potential to result in death. This disorder happens when blood vessels in the brain rupture, leading to impaired delivery of oxygen and nutrients to brain cells. Understanding the etiology and predisposing factors of brain hemorrhage can help in its prevention, thus lowering the risk of experiencing this condition.
What is a Brain Hemorrhage?
A brain hemorrhage is the result of blood vessels in the brain rupturing and causing bleeding. The brain functions by depending on the system of blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients. When brain blood vessels rupture, blood will accumulate in the skull and brain. Consequently, there is an increase in intracranial pressure, which restricts the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain's tissue and cells.
Brain hemorrhage is a critical medical disease that requires immediate treatment. Brain hemorrhage can result in lasting neurological impairment and perhaps a fatal outcome.
The severity of brain damage depends on the location of the affected area, the size of the hemorrhage, and the duration of time between the onset of bleeding and medical treatment. In the absence of oxygen and nutrients, brain cells could die and experience permanent injury. This can lead to permanent physical and mental disabilities.
Read more: List Of Food Pantangan For Stroke Patients
Causes and Risk Factors of Brain Hemorrhage
The rupture of a brain blood vessel is the cause of a brain hemorrhage. There are several potential causes of this condition, including:
- Head trauma resulting from falls, car accidents, sports injuries, and other causes
- The accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries results in a weakened state of the blood vessels
- Experiencing blood clots
- A cerebral aneurysm, which is a distended blood vessel that results in a collapse of the blood vessels
- Abnormally formed connections between arteries and veins (arteriovenous malformation) result in leakage.
- The accumulation of protein in the walls of brain arteries.
- Brain tumor
In addition to the aforementioned factors, there are numerous conditions that may worsen brain bleeding, such as:
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Abuse of drugs
- Consumption of tobacco
- Experiencing hemorrhage or a condition requiring the use of blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants)
- Eclampsia and other conditions associated with delivery and pregnancy
- Conditions that influence the formation of blood vessel walls
Read more: How To Detect Stroke Signs With The FAS.T Method
How To Prevent Brain Hemorrhage
According to the Cleveland Clinic, it may be impossible to prevent all causes of brain hemorrhage. However, there are numerous lifestyle modifications and anticipatory methods that can be implemented to minimize the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, including:
- Protect yourself from injury. Use a seat belt when driving or a helmet when riding a bicycle, motorbike, or playing sports
- Stop smoking. Toxins and dangerous chemicals have the potential to damage the cardiovascular system and induce the accumulation of plaque inside the arteries, resulting in the constriction of blood vessels
- Patients with hypertension, diabetes, or excessive cholesterol should get checkups frequently. To manage hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol, doctors may prescribe regular medication and suggest lifestyle modifications
- Maintain an ideal weight. Overweight people are more likely to develop blood vessel disorders, including brain hemorrhages
- Consuming nutritious foods that improve cognitive and heart health, such as the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet
- Do at least 150 minutes of sports or other physical exercise every week
A sudden brain hemorrhage needs immediate medical intervention. Two of the most efficient preventive steps are to commit to a healthy lifestyle and protect yourself from the risk for fatal injury. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr. Alvidiani Agustina Damanik
Higuera, V. (2023). Hemorrhagic stroke: What to look for and how to prevent it. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317111
Cleveland Clinic. Brain Bleed, Hemorrhage (Intracranial Hemorrhage). Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14480-brain-bleed-hemorrhage-intracranial-hemorrhage
Wright, S., Booth, S. (2024). Brain Hemorrhage: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/brain/brain-hemorrhage-bleeding-causes-symptoms-treatments
Felman, A. (2019). What to know about brain hemorrhage. Available: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317080
University of Gothenburg. (2023). Exercise seems to protect against major brain hemorrhage. Available from: https://www.gu.se/en/news/exercise-seems-to-protect-against-major-brain-hemorrhage