Mallilo & Grossman Attorneys at Law

Jul 23, 2018

| Jul 23, 2018 | Firm News |

Bleeding in the brain, also known as a brain hemorrhage, is a potentially fatal injury that requires immediate medical attention.

One of the primary concerns with treating bleeding in the brain is doing so in a timely manner. Unfortunately, since symptoms can come on fast, many people with this injury don’t have enough time to receive the treatment necessary to prevent serious harm or death.

If you have any reason to believe you have a brain injury, don’t wait a minute to receive medical treatment. This way, if you do have a hemorrhage, your medical team can take immediate action in the hope of avoiding complications.

Some of the most common causes of bleeding in the brain include:

  • Head trauma: A blow to the head is the most common cause of a hemorrhage. This often occurs as the result of a car accident, workplace accident, slip-and-fall mishap or injury during a sporting event.
  • High blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure increases the likelihood of a brain hemorrhage.
  • Bleeding disorders: Sickle cell anemia, for instance, increases the likelihood of bleeding in the brain. If you have any bleeding disorder, you’ll want to be particularly aware of any changes in the way you feel.
  • Aneurysm: If a blood vessel in your brain weakens, it can burst and bleed, thus resulting in a stroke or even death.

Is there a way to treat a brain hemorrhage?

Despite the seriousness of a brain hemorrhage, there are treatment options available.

Before treatment, your medical team will use a variety of diagnostic tests, such as a CT scan and MRI, to gain a better understanding of what’s happening in your brain.

From there, treatment can include:

  • Surgery, with the intent of stopping the bleeding and preventing future problems
  • Medication, such as a diuretic or painkiller, with the goal of reducing swelling and controlling seizures

Whether or not you fully recover from a hemorrhage depends on many factors, such as how quickly you receive treatment, the amount of swelling and the size.

Some people recover quickly, returning to their normal life soon enough. Others, however, face long-term complications, such as loss of brain function.

If your brain hemorrhage was the result of another person’s negligence, such as in a motor vehicle accident, you should learn more about your legal rights and how to hold them responsible.