What is a brain hemorrhage?

A brain hemorrhage, also known as a cerebral hemorrhage or intracranial hemorrhage, occurs when there is bleeding in the brain. This bleeding can occur within the brain tissue itself (intracerebral hemorrhage) or in the space between the brain and the skull (subarachnoid hemorrhage or subdural hemorrhage).

There are various causes of brain hemorrhage, including head trauma, high blood pressure (hypertension), aneurysms (weakness in blood vessel walls), arteriovenous malformations (abnormal tangles of blood vessels), and certain medications.

Brain hemorrhages are serious medical emergencies that require immediate attention. Symptoms may include severe headache, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, vision problems, and loss of consciousness. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the hemorrhage but may include surgery, medication, or other interventions to control bleeding and relieve pressure on the brain.