A cerebral hemorrhage can occur for various reasons and at different locations within the skull. A cerebral hemorrhage is usually accompanied by typical symptoms, depending on the extent of the bleeding. Particularly if there is a heavy bleeding, disturbances of consciousness such as a coma can occur.
People who are in a coma cannot be awakened even by repeated painful stimuli. The prognosis of a cerebral haemorrhage as a result of which the affected person develops a coma can be classified as relatively poor. In the course of the treatment of the bleeding it is important to be able to diagnose it as the reason for the coma. The therapy consists primarily of maintaining the vital functions of the body and managing an ideal intracranial pressure. In some cases surgical intervention may be necessary.
Causes and symptoms
The symptoms that can occur with a cerebral hemorrhage are largely determined by the localization and extent of the bleeding. Besides a variety of typical symptoms, a loss of consciousness in the form of a coma is a typical symptom of a severe and pronounced cerebral hemorrhage. In the case of a coma after a cerebral hemorrhage, the affected person cannot be awakened even by repeated pain stimuli.
Furthermore, vital reflexes and functions fail during the unconscious state. For example, there is no longer a breathing reflex, which is why comatose people usually need intensive medical care and ventilation to prevent serious consequences and death. A cerebral hemorrhage can occur for many different reasons.
In addition to injuries involving the head, bleeding can also occur spontaneously. Risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage include high blood pressure, obesity, nicotine and alcohol consumption, and blood clotting disorders. If a cerebral artery aneurysm is present, there is a risk of rupture with subsequent massive cerebral hemorrhage.
A coma is a symptom that can occur as a consequence of many diseases. If the coma is caused by a cerebral hemorrhage, it is due to a massive impairment of brain function. The space inside the skull is generally very limited, which is why a cerebral hemorrhage is always accompanied by an increase in pressure inside the skull. In the case of severe bleeding, parts of the brain are moved to the side and compressed. A massive increase in pressure can irritate parts of the brain to such an extent that the normal function of certain parts of the brain can no longer be maintained and a coma occurs.
