Is cerebral hemorrhage dangerous?

Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
Updated on September 24, 2024
00:00
00:00

Cerebral hemorrhage is a type of acute cerebrovascular accident and is quite dangerous. The risk associated with cerebral hemorrhage is directly related to the amount of bleeding and the location of the bleed. Generally, if it is an ordinary lobar hemorrhage and the volume of blood is less than 30 milliliters, the risk is relatively low, and conservative medical treatment may be sufficient. However, if the bleeding exceeds 30 milliliters, there is an indication for surgery. Without surgery, conservative treatment may lead to an increase in hematoma and progressive surrounding edema, which could compress the brainstem, cause brain herniation, and lead to respiratory and circulatory failure, posing a life-threatening risk. Hemorrhages in the brainstem and cerebellum are even more dangerous. The brainstem is the center of vital functions, including the centers for breathing and heart rate. Typically, a bleeding volume exceeding 5 milliliters in the brainstem can lead to patient death. Since the cerebellum is close to the brainstem and might compress it, a bleeding volume exceeding 10 milliliters in the cerebellum often warrants consideration for surgery.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
1min 24sec home-news-image

How to treat cerebral hemorrhage?

The treatment of cerebral hemorrhage is a comprehensive approach. During the acute phase of cerebral hemorrhage, it is necessary to use some dehydrating and intracranial pressure-lowering drugs to alleviate brain cell edema and prevent the formation of brain herniation, reducing damage to brain cells. Additionally, drugs that eliminate free radicals should be used. During the acute phase, hemostatic drugs can also be used appropriately. Moreover, the most common cause of cerebral hemorrhage is hypertension, so the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage primarily involves stable control of blood pressure, as well as drugs that nourish the nerves, promoting the recovery of damaged brain and nerve cells. Other treatments include the prevention and management of complications such as using anti-infective drugs for concurrent pulmonary infections; for associated gastrointestinal stress ulcers and bleeding, drugs that suppress gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa along with hemostatic drugs are used, followed by active rehabilitation exercises once the condition is stabilized. Thus, the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage is comprehensive and needs to consider multiple aspects. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not medicate blindly.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
51sec home-news-image

Is cerebral hemorrhage serious?

The critical period for cerebral hemorrhage is generally around 14 days, as it primarily involves overcoming two most dangerous phases. The first phase is within three days of the cerebral hemorrhage. This period is most feared for the potential increase in bleeding. Often, if blood pressure is not well controlled, it can easily lead to further bleeding, especially within the first three days which has the highest incidence. The second phase is approximately 10-14 days after the cerebral hemorrhage, because this period marks the peak of cerebral swelling and cerebral vasospasm. The main concern here is severe cerebral swelling and cerebral vasospasm, which can lead to cerebral infarction, and potentially extensive cerebral infarction, possibly resulting in death. Trepanation surgery may be necessary to save the patient.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
31sec home-news-image

Sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage

The most common sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage is hemiplegia, which is specifically characterized by reduced muscle strength in the limbs on one side, difficulty in movement or complete immobility, often accompanied by sensory impairments on the same side, such as reduced sensation to cold, heat, pain, etc., or complete numbness. Sometimes there may also be vision loss on the affected side, as well as aphasia, headache, vertigo, and nausea.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
55sec home-news-image

How to recover from cerebral hemorrhage

The recovery from cerebral hemorrhage is divided into the acute phase and the non-acute phase. In the acute phase, if there is a large amount of bleeding and increased intracranial pressure, surgical intervention can be considered. If the bleeding is less but intracranial pressure is still high, general treatment includes managing blood pressure well, maintaining it at 140 systolic pressure, under which conditions things generally tend to be better. Additionally, controlling intracranial pressure and treatment to stop the bleeding are needed. Later stages involve anticoagulant reversal treatments and prevention of complications because infections, high blood sugar, and stress ulcers can further worsen the condition. The later stages primarily focus on rehabilitation training treatments, helping with limb and speech rehabilitation training.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 18sec home-news-image

What can be eaten with cerebral hemorrhage?

Intracerebral hemorrhage is an extremely dangerous neurological disease. Its onset is very sudden, with patients experiencing headaches, nausea, vomiting, as well as symptoms like limb paralysis, numbness, and speech impairments. Additionally, the gastrointestinal function of patients is significantly affected during an intracerebral hemorrhage, making them very susceptible to acute ulcers and acute gastric mucosal lesions. Hence, there are some precautions to consider regarding diet. In the acute phase of intracerebral hemorrhage, it is recommended to eat softer, easily digestible foods, such as rice porridge, millet porridge, sesame paste, etc., which are easier to digest and can help reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. After the acute phase, the patient should consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, which can help maintain regular bowel movements, beneficial for the recovery from intracerebral hemorrhage. These also provide a rich source of vitamins that can protect vascular endothelial cells and reduce the recurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage. Additionally, eating high-quality proteins such as drinking milk, eating eggs, and lean meats can help enhance the patient's resistance and reduce complications.