How is brain haemorrhage caused; what are the types and cure?

How is brain haemorrhage caused; what are the types and cure?

Haemorrhage refers to loss of blood from the body. In the case of the brain, the haemorrhage is referred to as the cerebral haemorrhage wherein due to internal injury there will be rupture of the capillaries and oozing out of the blood which collect internally. This causes a variety of complica­tions leading to stroke and even death. Initially however internal haemorrhage, if it is of a little quantity, may bring headache and nausea. Prolonged bleeding leads to unconsciousness.

Brain haemorrhage may be classified into four types- extradural haemorrhage, subdural haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage and intracerebral haemorrhage.

Extradural haemorrhage refers to collection of blood in the space between the skull and duramater. Rupture of the meningeal artery causes oozing of blood. The laceration of the artery may be due to fracture of the temporal bone as during a head injury.

As a result of the collection of blood, there is increased intracranial pressure and the patient becomes unconscious. Im­mediate surgical intervention can save the patient. Sudbural haemorrhage refers to collection of blood between the dura and the arachnoid mater.

This is due to the rupture of cerebral veins which may be caused during a head injury. Several cortical veins bleed due to rupture to produce haematoma. In some instances subdural haemorrhage may be of the chronic type as seen in boxers who are prone to head injury. Minor haemorrhages accumulate and simultaneously blood clotting may also take place.

Sub arachnoid haemorrhage is the collection of the blood between the arachnoid and the piamater. This is due to trauma caused during head injury when blood leaks into the space. Sometimes it could be spontane­ous also due to congenital problems.

Intracerebral haemorrhage may be of two types- massive cerebral haemorrhage and punctate cerebral haemorrhage. Massive cerebral haemorrhage is caused due to tumours, hypertension, trauma and various other reasons.

This kind of haemorrhage leads to cerebral stroke or apo­plexy. In this, the arteries rupture followed by abrupt rise in blood pres­sure. This may be caused by physical or emotional stress. Punctate cere­bral haemorrhages are refered to as multiple, small, pinpoint haemorrhages within the brain substance. This may be due to brain contusion, infection, embolism or even asphyxia.

Treatment:

Treatment for all types of cerebral haemorrhages depends on the extent of damage caused to the brain. In most of the instances when detected early, surgical treatment followed by medication is the only rem­edy.