Characteristics of a brain hemorrhage
A brain hemorrhage , known scientifically as intracerebral hemorrhage ( ICH), is a discharge of blood in the brain caused by the rupture of an artery in it. This is what is also known as cerebral hemorrhage. Cerebral hemorrhages are more harmful than strokes.
A brain hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of an ictus, what was more popularly known in the past as apoplexy. An ictus supposes the interruption of blood flow to a more or less extensive part of the brain. It is popularly known as a stroke, cerebral thrombosis or cerebral embolism.
Because of a brain hemorrhage, brain cells (neurons) of the affected patient are damaged by lack of oxygen and glucose, so that they can not perform their proper functions.
A brain hemorrhage requires immediate hospital treatment to reduce as far as possible the damage to the brain.
Symptoms of a brain hemorrhage
The main symptoms of a brain hemorrhage are:
- Paralysis of a part of the body : It can affect the two sides of the body (tetraplegia), but it usually paralyzes the the arm, the leg, and the trunk on the same side of the body (hemiplegia). Sometimes it only affects to a part of the body, such as a leg or an arm (monoplegia). When it paralyzes all the limbs , it is called quadriplegia.
- Awareness of an area of the body: A body part may appear sensibilized as though it was lacking in strength (hypoesthesia) or it was numb (paresthesia)
- Breathing problems: Sometimes respiratory functions are disrupted and the patient feels hard to breathe. In more severe cases, this can lead to coma.
- Slurred speech, speech disturbances (aphasia) can manifest itself in many ways. In severe cases the language is inconsistent and not well understood. Sometimes there is reversing of the order of the syllables within a word or some words can be changed for other.
- Meaningless language: In other cases, although the patient seems to speak well, you do not understand what he says
- Understanding problems : The patient responds poorly to commands.
- Disturbed vision: The patient does not see well either in one or in both eyes when focusing vision to a certain point of the visual field. Other times , double vision can be experienced.
- Balance problems: People suffering a stroke may have difficulty walking, which is responsible for many falls or body imbalance, that is usually accompanied by vertigo.
Before a brain hemorrhage occurs, a less serious transient ischemic attack (TIA) can take place, offering more reduced symptoms. It is necessary to know it to act quickly. The patient should be medically attended to prevent the emergence of a more serious stroke within a few days or weeks before this " minor " stroke.
Causes of a brain hemorrhage
A brain hemorrhage is caused by the rupture of an artery in the brain.
The main factors causing obstruction of the cerebral arteries are:
- Aging: Over the years, the arteries become less flexible and more brittle, so they can break more easily.
- Genetics: People with relatives who have suffered a brain hemorrhage are more prone to such accidents.
- Hypertension: It has been demonstrated that lowering blood pressure reduces the likelihood of cerebral hemorrhage.
- Diabetes: People with diabetes, especially people who have diabetes and hypertension, have higher risk of cerebral hemorrhages.
- Smoking: Quitting smoking is necessary to reduce cerebral hemorrhages.
- Menopause: Menopausal women are more likely to cerebral hemorrhage.
- Poor diet
- Drugs or medicines.
Brain hemorrhage prevention
The best way to prevent brain hemorrhages. is to take the following measures:
- Control your hypertension (Regular checkups. Ensure that the minimum is below 9 and the maximum below 14)
- Control your obesity: Especially that obesity which affects the waist.
- Control your diabetes.
- Stop smoking.
- Do not drink alcohol or drink moderately. In any case, men should drink no more than two glasses a day or women more than one.
- Do not take drugs.
- Perform daily exercise: at least 30 minutes. A good way is to walk. Non-overweight people should walk at least 30 minutes a day and the obese or overweight about 60 or 90 minutes each day
- Choose a diet free of fat and rich in natural plant foods such as fruits and vegetables.
- Take the appropriate medicine or remedy: According to the guidelines of your doctor, if you are prone to excessive clotting, especially if you are suffering with atrial fibrillation, you should take antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulant drugs.
Antiplatelet drugs or remedies are those that decrease the formation of blood platelets that are responsible for the clotting process.
Among them, we have medicines like aspirin or remedies such as willow. Thinning drugs or anticoagulants remedies are those that neutralize the clotting factors to make the blood less thick, for example, Sintron
Diagnosis and treatment of brain hemorrhage
Symptoms of brain hemorrhage will require medical attention as soon as possible. The affected person should be transferred immediately to a hospital unit for immediate treatment.
In some cases some other tests to assess the state of the brain or heart will be needed , such as angiography of the head (to uncover the blocked arteries); echocardiography (To check the status of the heart); blood tests (to check cholesterol, sugar, blood clotting, etc.)
The official treatment of brain hemorrhage focuses on the use of thrombolytic drugs used to dissolve clots and blood-thinning drugs that prevent new clots from forming.
In many cases it is required the use of surgical procedures to remove the clot and heal the affected blood vessels.
Patients affected by a stroke need further treatment to hospital treatment. The role of this treatment is to recover the speech, movement coordination and other physical and mental functions lost after the stroke.
This work is very costly and durable. Sometimes it lasts for a lifetime. This involves the participation of many therapists and family members of patients who must take care of the patient until he/she has recovered.
Consequences of a brain hemorrhage
Sometimes the consequences of a brain hemorrhage are minimal and there are very few sequels that disappear over time. Other times, the consequences are more serious and may be temporary or permanent. Among the main, we can point out the following:
- Loss of movement.
- Loss of coordination or capacity of a limb.
- Physical weakness due to malnutrition, caused by physical disability and lack of interest in food.
- Problems caused by lack of movement or coordination: Lack of muscle tone that can cause muscle pain or cramps. Lack of personal autonomy with the corresponding need to be treated by others at home or in nursing homes or hospitals. Pressure sores from staying too long in one position, joint problems, etc. Blows, falls (bruises or fractures caused by these traumas)
- Loss of speech or imperfect speech: inability to communicate.
- Loss of many brain functions: memory, understanding, sense of hunger. etc.
- Personality changes: depression, irritability, aggressiveness, apathy, neglect (often requiring a special psychiatric drug treatment and with the possibility of needing psychiatric institutionalization)
- Social isolation.
- Inability to work.
- Side effects of medications.
NATURAL TREATMENT OF BRAIN HEMORRHAGE
(Home remedies for brain hemorrhage)
The natural treatment for brain hemorrhage is based on the use of a variety of natural resources that can help prevent or treat blood clots:
- Phytotherapy for brain hemorrhage : The plants used for the following purposes: Plants with circulatory properties that will improve blood circulation, plants with vasotonic properties that will protect blood vessels and will give them greater flexibility and plants with diuretic properties that will favor the expulsion of fluids body
- Diet for brain hemorrhage: Avoid foods that worsen the flow of blood and choose those foods that favor blood flowing.
For more information on these two topics, see "Remedies for stroke" and "Diet for stroke" in the listing above