Cerebral hemorrhage, << SEHR uh bruhl or suh REE bruhl, HEHM uh rihj, >> is bleeding that results from a broken blood vessel in the brain. Blood escapes into the brain and destroys or damages the surrounding tissue. In addition, other brain tissue suffers damage because of the interruption of normal circulation. The victim suffers a stroke (see Stroke).
Most victims of cerebral hemorrhage suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). In many cases, the victim also has arteriosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries.” Arteriosclerosis makes the arteries stiff and more likely to rupture under continued high blood pressure. In other cases, the victim may have a weak spot in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain. Hypertension may cause this weak spot to swell like a bubble. This swollen area, called an aneurysm, may eventually burst (see Aneurysm). Cerebral hemorrhages can occur at any age but are most common in people over 50 years old.
A cerebral hemorrhage occurs without warning. Within six hours, it can cause unconsciousness and paralysis of the limbs. The presence of blood in the brain after a cerebral hemorrhage occurs is easily detected with an X-ray machine called a computerized tomographic scanner, also known as a CT scanner. Some cerebral hemorrhages cause death. Others leave the victim with various disabilities, depending on what areas of the brain are damaged. The speed and extent of recovery depend on the amount of damage.
