Contents:
- Medical Video: Hemorrhagic Stroke (Brain Hemorrhage)
- What is a subdural hematoma?
- Signs and symptoms of subdural brain bleeding
- What happens if the subdural hematoma is not treated?
- How to diagnose subdural bleeding
- Treatment for subdural bleeding
Medical Video: Hemorrhagic Stroke (Brain Hemorrhage)
Head injuries are one of the most common consequences of exercise, although they can also occur as a result of falls or motorized accidents. Even so, the presence of head trauma can cause serious health problems and the effects can be fatal. One type of severe head trauma to watch out for is brain bleeding calledsubdural hematoma. What are the signs and symptoms, and how do you treat them?
What is a subdural hematoma?
Subdural hematoma, often also called cerebral hemorrhagesubdural, is a bleeding condition that gathersbetween two layers of the brain, namely the arachnoidal layer and the dura (meningeal) layer.
This collection of blood is called a hematoma. If the blood volume is very large, or the event is acute (sudden and direct), this can cause an increase in pressure in the brain. High pressure in the brain can cause damage to brain tissue, and can endanger life if it is not treated quickly. About 50 to 90 percent of people who experience acute subdural hematoma die from injury or its complications.
Subdural brain hemorrhage is often caused by head injuries, both from physical contact sports, motorized accidents, or falls. The impact or impact that is strong enough about the head can make the brain vibrate and hit the skull wall, so that internal bleeding occurs.
Infants and elderly people are more prone to chronic subdural hematoma, which is usually caused by repeated minor head injuries. For example, because it often falls. Chronic subdural hematoma is easier to treat than acute subdural hematoma. However, this condition can still cause life-threatening complications.
Signs and symptoms of subdural brain bleeding
Symptoms of subdural cerebral hemorrhage can appear immediately or a few weeks after injury. That is why, some people might look fine after getting injured.
However, high pressure in the brain that continues to be allowed can cause:
- Severe headache
- Dizzy
- Nausea and vomiting
- Talk about wandering
- Disorientation (drowsiness, confusion, dazed)
- Changes in behavior
- Seizures
- Amnesia
- Numb
- Weakness on one side of the body
- Loss of consciousness or coma
In many cases, the symptoms of chronic subdural hematoma can be similar to symptoms of dementia, stroke, tumor, or other problems in the brain. That is why, you should immediately go to a doctor if you have just had a head injury, especially if there is no external bleeding (subdural cerebral hemorrhage is usually not marked by open bleeding in the head), or experience the symptoms mentioned above.
What happens if the subdural hematoma is not treated?
Subdural hematoma complications can occur immediately after injury or shortly after the injury has been treated. These complications can include:
- Brain herniation, which can cause coma or death
- Seizures
- Muscle weakness, which is permanent or numb
The rate of complications depends on the severity of the brain injury. The risk of complications can increase if you already have other health problems, which can affect mild or acute bleeding.
Generally people who use blood thinning drugs are at higher risk of experiencing complications due to deep brain bleeding. In addition, people aged over 65 years also have a higher risk, especially for chronic subdural hematoma.
How to diagnose subdural bleeding
Subdural brain hemorrhage can be diagnosed by using imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRIs, to determine whether there is blood that is leaking and gathering in your brain. Your doctor may also do a blood test to check the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and your platelets. Low levels of red blood cells can indicate that you have a lack of blood.
Your doctor may also do a physical test to check your heart rate and blood pressure to find out whether there is another internal bleeding or not.
Treatment for subdural bleeding
Treatment of this condition will depend on the severity of the sufferer. In a subdural hematoma with mild symptoms, your doctor may routinely observe your condition by doing a repeat imaging test (MRI scan or CT scan) to monitor whether your bleeding has improved or not.
Someone who experiences mild head trauma should immediately stop activities and not return to activities that are at risk of head trauma (eg physical contact sports such as basketball, soccer, or martial arts; or driving) for some time. To reduce pain, use drugs such as paracetamol, howeveravoid it consumption of drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin, and alcohol.
However, if you experience severe subdural bleeding, surgery can be the best choice to reduce pressure on the brain.
