Common Warning Signs Of A Hemorrhagic Stroke

Nausea And Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting may occur in some patients who have a hemorrhagic stroke. The presence of nausea and vomiting depends on the region of the brain in which the individual experiences their stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke that occurs in the cerebellum can cause abnormal reflexes. When this stroke occurs in other brain tissues that cause the cerebellum to become compressed, abnormal reflexes can also appear. When a patient experiences abnormal reflexes in their esophagus, chest, torso, head, and stomach, it can cause them to vomit unintentionally. 

Vomiting during a hemorrhagic stroke can be a mechanical malfunction due to reflexes and abnormal muscle activity. Another explanation is that it may be related to the stroke's effects on the balance and perception centers of the brain. A stroke that compresses or damages the tissues in the cerebellum or brain stem can cause a patient to lose sync with their visual perception, balance, and body position. This malfunction results in nausea and vomiting induced by vertigo and dizziness.

Facial Weakness Or Numbness

Facial weakness or numbness can indicate a hemorrhagic stroke occurred. Facial weakness or numbness refers to when an individual cannot use the muscles that move their face and cannot feel normal sensations in the facial tissues. The face may appear to droop or become flaccid when an individual experiences facial weakness and or paralysis. When an individual has a hemorrhagic stroke, the displaced excess blood that enters the brain tissues can cause the nerves that control the facial muscles to become compressed. This can result in the death of the cells making up these nerves. 

When the nerves that trigger the movement of the muscles of the face become unable to function, the facial muscles themselves are also unable to function. The patient's mouth may appear to droop on the affected side of their face, and they may drool due to the inability to close their mouth properly. They may also have slurred speech and be unable to eat or drink properly. However, most individuals who experience facial weakness or numbness due to a hemorrhagic stroke retain their ability to blink and move their forehead.

Seizures

Seizures are more prevalent among patients who have a hemorrhagic stroke than those who have other types of strokes. If an individual has a stroke is not diagnosed promptly, the occurrence of a post-stroke seizure can help with a stroke diagnosis. A seizure occurs when there is a surge of disorganized abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes certain symptoms and behaviors in an affected individual. The swelling and inflammation that occurs in the brain tissues when an individual has a hemorrhagic stroke can disrupt the normal conduction of electrical signals in the brain.

The presence of blood throughout the brain tissues can also hinder the normal movement of electrical signals in the brain. This type of disruption can trigger the disorganized, irregular activity that characterizes a seizure. Any stroke will cause inflammation, cellular damage, and dead tissues in the brain. All three of these factors can cause the development of scar tissue, which may also disrupt regular electrical activity in the brain.