Brain Bleed: Conscious vs. Unconscious

Brain Bleed: Conscious vs. Unconscious

The brain is one of the most important organs in the body because it controls someone's motor and sensory function and perception while also being the home of conscious thought. When someone sustains neurological damage of any kind, it has the potential to have a devastating impact on the individual's life as well as the lives of their family and friends. It is essential for everyone to understand the signs and symptoms of a brain bleed so that a severe injury is not missed.
There are many different types of traumatic brain injuries and, similarly, there are many different ways that these injuries can happen. By understanding how these injuries occur, people can be better prepared to avoid such serious head and neck injuries. Some of the more common mechanisms of injuries include:

• Falls: While falls may seem harmless on the surface, these actually have the potential to be quite devastating. Elderly individuals who do not have the same balance that they used to are prone to falling on stairs, ramps, and even near railings. Toddlers who are just learning to walk can also slip and strike their head on the ground. Both of these patient populations also may struggle to voice concerns about symptoms that they are experiencing. If people aren't vigilant, serious injuries can be missed.
• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Without a doubt, if someone is involved in an auto accident of any kind, they have the potential to sustain a serious head injury. The interior of a car is riddled with hard objects such as the steering wheel, dashboard, and window. If people strike their skull on any of these surfaces, they could end up with brain damage. For this reason, it is important for people to wear their seat belt every time they get in a car. It can be the difference between life and death.

Conscious vs. Unconscious: Signs and Symptoms

A brain bleed is one of the many different kinds of brain injuries that can result and it is important to understand how to spot it. While most people think that severe brain injuries are likely to cause a loss of consciousness, this isn't always the case. A recent article was published in the medical literature and reviews some of the signs and symptoms of a brain bleed. While it is possible for someone to lose consciousness with a brain bleed, this isn't always the case. Some of the conscious symptoms that someone could notice include tingling in the fingers and toes, intermittent loss of vision in one or more both eyes, or the inability to move one or more limbs. Importantly, these symptoms may not occur at the same time and can manifest themselves later. The individual also may not lose consciousness immediately after the injury but could pass out later. Because of this, family and friends should remain alert after a loved one has experienced a brain injury.

Consequences can be Deadly

If someone has been diagnosed with a brain bleed, some consequences can occur. First, the blood will start to leak out of the intricate network of blood vessels in the body and will begin to cause the interior of the brain to swell. This swelling is a typical response to an injury. The problem with swelling inside of the skull is that the brain is growing inside of a closed space. This means that the brain tissue will eventually run out of room to grow and will be forced outside of one of the holes in the skull. This is called a brain herniation and can result in massive damage to someone's neurological function. Herniation of the brain stem can cause someone to stop breathing and can cause the heart to stop beating altogether. Consequences of a brain bleed have the potential to be deadly.

Watch YouTube Video: Brain Hemorrhage: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.  This video explains the causes and symptoms of a brain bleed and how to treat it.

Image Attribution: The image at the top of this page was found first on Wikimedia Commons and is printed here with permission under CC BY SA, version 3.0
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