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 Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

40sec

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Clinical manifestations of subarachnoid hemorrhage

The main clinical manifestations of subarachnoid hemorrhage are sudden severe headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, with positive signs of meningeal irritation. If such symptoms occur, it is urgent to seek medical attention and perform a cranial CT scan. If the CT shows a high-density shadow in the subarachnoid space, it can be diagnosed as subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the patient should be treated in neurology or neurosurgery for active management. Clinically, conservative medication treatment is generally adopted, paying attention to changes in the patient's consciousness and pupils, and surgical treatment may be considered if necessary.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao

Neurology

1min 23sec

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How long is the recovery period for subarachnoid hemorrhage?

The recovery period for subarachnoid hemorrhage is four to six weeks, during which absolute bed rest is theoretically required. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a severe emergency in internal medicine with a very high mortality rate. Common causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage include cerebral vascular malformation, cerebral aneurysm, and rupture of blood vessels into the subarachnoid space, causing various symptoms. The main symptoms include severe headache, increased intracranial pressure, nausea, and vomiting. There are three layers of meninges in the subarachnoid space, consisting of the pia mater, arachnoid mater, and dura mater. Between the pia mater and the arachnoid mater is the subarachnoid space. Following a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a large amount of blood enters the subarachnoid space, leading to increased intracranial pressure, which can cause cerebral edema, brain cell death, and even brain herniation, potentially compressing the respiratory control center and leading to death. Without proper treatment, the mortality rate of a second subarachnoid hemorrhage can reach up to 50%, and for a third subarachnoid hemorrhage, survival is almost impossible with the mortality rate nearly 100%.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

54sec

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Complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a relatively serious condition. Most patients suffer from this due to the rupture of an aneurysm, while others may have arteriovenous malformations. This disease is associated with complications, with common ones including the following. First, there are acute complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Patients usually experience severe pain and vomiting again after their condition stabilizes, and the mortality rate significantly increases. The second complication is cerebral vasospasm, which typically peaks between three days and two weeks. Cerebral vasospasm can easily lead to vascular occlusion and the subsequent formation of cerebral thrombosis. The third type includes acute or subacute hydrocephalus. Additionally, seizures and electrolyte disorders may also occur as complications.

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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 Wei Shi Liang

Intensive Care Unit

43sec

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Symptoms and signs of subarachnoid hemorrhage

The typical symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage include headache, vomiting, and sudden severe pain, accompanied by vomiting, pale complexion, and whole-body cold sweats. Additionally, there may be disturbances in consciousness and psychiatric symptoms. Most patients do not experience disturbances in consciousness, but may exhibit restlessness and agitation. Severe cases can show varying degrees of clouded consciousness, and even coma, with a few instances displaying seizures and psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, signs of meningeal irritation are also present, particularly common and pronounced in young and middle-aged patients, characterized by neck stiffness, headaches, and vomiting.