Many of us don’t spend too much time thinking about the various types of brain injuries, but knowing a little bit about this topic may one day save your life or the life of someone you know.
Brain bleeds and brain aneurysms both involve brain tissues and blood vessels and may lead to brain damage of some sort. Though they can be related, there are also differences between the two.
Many Americans live with unruptured brain aneurysms while strokes kill more than 100,000 people each year.
A brain bleed is known as a type of stroke. Keep reading to learn the difference between this and an aneurysm in this guide.
Brain Bleed Dissected
When you hear the term ‘brain bleed’, it probably conjures up the idea that you have bleeding inside your head. While this is true, neurologists and neurosurgeons describe brain bleeds by their exact location in the brain.
Bleeding or hemorrhaging can occur in two main areas: within the skull but outside of the brain tissue or inside the brain tissue.
When the blood vessels are compromised by a hemorrhage, oxygen and nutrients are no longer able to reach the brain tissue. Additionally, pooling blood puts pressure on the brain and further deprives it of oxygen.
When this interruption of blood flow happens for more than three to four minutes, cells in the brain die and cause problems with nerves cells and related functions.
Brain bleeds usually come on suddenly, can cause brain damage, and are life-threatening.
What is a Brain Aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is when a blood vessel, an artery, experiences a local dilatation meaning that a local section of the artery expanded in an abnormal way. It’s larger than it should be structurally and physiologically.
When functioning properly, arteries constrict and dilate as part of their normal function. An aneurysm occurs when there’s a structural weakening and some dysfunction causing a dilatation of the blood vessel in the brain.
The majority of brain aneurysms don’t end up rupturing, don’t cause health problems, or even cause symptoms. They are often detected when someone is having a test for another condition.
Real problems occur when they rupture and quickly become life-threatening. Seek medical attention immediately.
Brain Injuries are complicated. Learn more here about the different types of brain injuries and the treatment and rehabilitation techniques used to help someone in need.
Suspect You Have a Brain Emergency?
If you are concerned that you’re suffering from a brain bleed, it’s imperative to get to the emergency room as quickly as possible to better your chance of survival. A healthcare professional can determine whether or not you have a brain emergency and make a treatment decision.
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