Subarachnoid hemorrhage headache causes

Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

Updated on September 18, 2024

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage commonly presents with clinical symptoms such as headache, reflex vomiting, and even consciousness disorders, seizures, etc. The main reasons for headaches caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage are, firstly, increased intracranial pressure, and secondly, impaired absorption of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to excessive accumulation in the subarachnoid space causing headaches. Additionally, blood entering the subarachnoid space can stimulate the meninges and toxic substances can also cause headaches. Therefore, patients should go to the hospital for a complete cranial CT examination and consult with the Department of Neurology or Neurosurgery.

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Written by Zhang Jin Chao

Neurosurgery

1min 11sec

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage nausea and vomiting how to treat

Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage experiencing nausea and vomiting can still be treated. Firstly, symptomatic treatment should be conducted, which can include using gastric mucosal protectants and antiemetic medications to effectively alleviate symptoms. Additionally, subarachnoid hemorrhage, nausea, and vomiting are often caused by increased intracranial pressure. In such cases, using mannitol or furosemide to dehydrate can reduce intracranial pressure. Once the intracranial pressure decreases, the symptoms of nausea and vomiting can be greatly improved and alleviated. Of course, some patients may also have complications such as hydrocephalus or intracerebral hematoma. In these cases, surgical interventions like craniotomy for hematoma removal or aneurysm clipping may be necessary, which can gradually relieve and improve the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Beyond symptomatic treatment, it is also necessary to treat the underlying primary disease, addressing causes such as aneurysms or vascular malformations.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

57sec

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Is subarachnoid hemorrhage hereditary?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs due to the rupture of intracranial blood vessels and the subsequent leaking of blood into the subarachnoid space. In most cases, this condition is caused by the rupture of an aneurysm. This disease does not have a significant genetic predisposition, so there is no need for excessive worry. The common causes of this disease are primarily intracranial aneurysms, followed by vascular malformations. It should be noted that arteriosclerosis can also lead to the formation of aneurysms, and long-term smoking can also cause aneurysms. Subarachnoid hemorrhage often begins abruptly, and the patient might be engaged in some physical activity or experiencing fluctuating emotions when suddenly severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and even consciousness disturbances occur. It is essential to treat a subarachnoid hemorrhage as soon as possible.

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Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

42sec

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage headache causes

Subarachnoid hemorrhage commonly presents with clinical symptoms such as headache, reflex vomiting, and even consciousness disorders, seizures, etc. The main reasons for headaches caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage are, firstly, increased intracranial pressure, and secondly, impaired absorption of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to excessive accumulation in the subarachnoid space causing headaches. Additionally, blood entering the subarachnoid space can stimulate the meninges and toxic substances can also cause headaches. Therefore, patients should go to the hospital for a complete cranial CT examination and consult with the Department of Neurology or Neurosurgery.

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Written by Zhang Jin Chao

Neurosurgery

46sec

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Is it normal to have a fever with subarachnoid hemorrhage?

It is normal for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage to develop a fever, but this must be assessed in conjunction with the patient’s body temperature and overall condition. Sometimes, the amount of bleeding in the subarachnoid space is small and may cause mild fever, mainly due to the irritation of the nerves by bloody cerebrospinal fluid. In other cases, when there is a lot of bleeding, it may cause high fever, possibly central fever, which requires specific measures to reduce the body temperature, such as pharmacotherapy, applying ice packs, or using hypothermia therapy devices. Additionally, some patients develop a fever three to five days after the subarachnoid hemorrhage, which might indicate a secondary infection, such as lung or urinary tract infections, necessitating anti-infection treatment.

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Written by Zhang Jin Chao

Neurosurgery

57sec

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage causes increased intracranial pressure.

Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage often have very high intracranial pressure. The main reason for the rise in intracranial pressure is that after the hemorrhage, the bloody cerebrospinal fluid usually stimulates nerves and blood vessels within the brain, which can lead to edema, such as vascular edema and neural edema, thereby gradually increasing the intracranial pressure. Sometimes, and relatively infrequently, the increase in cranial pressure is not significant. However, if the volume of subarachnoid hemorrhage is very large, the intracranial pressure can rise substantially, leading to symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, and headache, and in severe cases, there can be significant disturbances in consciousness. Additionally, patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage may sometimes experience obstructive or communicating hydrocephalus, which can also lead to increased cranial pressure.