Hemorrhagic Stroke Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
A stroke is a condition where blood flow stops in the brain suddenly so that brain cells are deprived of oxygen and die.
There are two types of stroke, namely:
- Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain experiences a sudden blockage
- Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts, causing bleeding in the brain
Hemorrhagic stroke is a dangerous condition and needs immediate treatment. Bleeding that occurs in the brain can cause the pressure in the brain to increase suddenly. This will cause disruption of brain function which is very risky to cause death.
There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke, namely:
- Intracerebral hemorrhage, bleeding occurs within the brain tissue
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage, bleeding occurs in the space between the layers covering the brain (subarachnoid space)
Symptoms
The main symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke are signs of increased pressure in the brain, namely severe headaches, spraying vomiting, and impaired consciousness. Disorders of consciousness can be disorientated (appear confused with the surrounding environment), tend to be drowsy, difficult to awaken from sleep, or completely unconscious.
In addition, there are also nervous disorders, which can be:
- Double vision
- Weakness of the limbs
- Hands and feet feel numb or tingling
- seizures
- Unable to speak or do not understand the contents of the conversation
- Swallowing disorders
- Blood pressure is very high
- Pulse and heart rate are very slow
- Irregular breathing
Hemorrhagic stroke sufferers generally have to undergo long-term treatment because it takes a long time to recover. During the treatment period, various complications can occur because sufferers usually lie down a lot. Some of the complications that can occur include:
- Formation of blood clots that can block blood vessels in the legs or in the lungs
- Lung infection (pneumonia)
- Memory impairment
- Emotional disturbances or depression
Reason
The causes of hemorrhagic stroke vary, depending on the type of stroke experienced.
Hemorrhagic strokes of the intracerebral hemorrhage type are generally caused by:
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Brain vascular disorders
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which is a type of vascular disorder caused by the failure of the formation of arteries and veins.
Meanwhile, hemorrhagic strokes of the subarachnoid hemorrhage type are more often caused by:
- AVM
- Blood clotting disorders
- Head trauma
- Brain blood vessel aneurysm, which is a condition of brain blood vessels that experience swelling so that the blood vessel walls are thin and break easily
Diagnosis
A collection of medical history information and a thorough physical examination will be needed by the doctor to determine the presence of a hemorrhagic stroke. The doctor will check the patient’s consciousness and nerve function.
After that, it is necessary to do a radiological examination in the form of a CT scan to determine whether there is brain bleeding and the location of the bleeding. Apart from a CT scan, other tests that can be done are an MRI examination and an MRI angiography to determine broken blood vessels.
Treatment
Hemorrhagic stroke treatment is divided into two phases. The first phase is dealing with emergency conditions that occur. The action taken aims to reduce the pressure in the brain that is too high.
Some common actions are:
- Elevate the patient’s head 30 degrees
- Increase the patient’s respiratory rate (hyperventilation)
- Give medication to lower blood pressure
- Give medicine to reduce pressure in the brain
- Craniotomy surgery
While the second phase is the rehabilitation phase which aims to optimize body function which is still good after a stroke. Treatment in this phase depends on the defects that arise after a stroke.
Rehabilitation that is generally carried out can be in the form of physiotherapy, occupational therapy (therapy to train stroke sufferers to carry out daily activities independently), and speech therapy.
Prevention
The main prevention of hemorrhagic stroke is to make healthy lifestyle changes. Some of the efforts that can be made are:
- Exercise or regular physical exercise, at least 3-4 times per week
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
- Avoid obesity
- Eat foods high in fiber and low in fat
- Manage stress well