What Causes a Brain Hemorrhage?

2025-05-23

A brain hemorrhage – also called a bleed on the brain – occurs when a blood vessel bursts and blood leaks into the brain tissue. The most common cause is high blood pressure, but aneurysms, blood-thinning medications and vascular malformations also play an important role.

A brain hemorrhage is a serious medical condition. Read more about what a brain hemorrhage is and symptoms of brain hemorrhage.

A brain hemorrhage is a form of stroke

Stroke is an umbrella term for two main types of acute brain injury:

  • Ischaemic stroke – caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow.
  • Haemorrhagic stroke (brain hemorrhage) – caused by a burst blood vessel.

A bleed on the brain accounts for approximately 10–15% of all strokes but is generally more life-threatening [1].

Causes of intracerebral hemorrhage

  1. High blood pressure (hypertension) – The most common cause. Up to 60–70% of intracerebral hemorrhages are attributed to hypertension [2].
  2. Atherosclerosis – Stiffened vessel walls become more vulnerable to damage.
  3. Blood-thinning medications – Warfarin, NOACs or aspirin increase the risk, particularly following a fall.
  4. Clotting disorders – Conditions where blood cannot clot normally.
  5. Brain tumours – Certain tumours can bleed spontaneously.

Causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage

  1. Aneurysm – A weakened area in a vessel wall that forms a bulge. When it ruptures, a sudden bleed occurs.
  2. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) – Congenital abnormalities in blood vessels.
  3. Head trauma – Severe blows to the head.

Other risk factors

  • Smoking, heavy alcohol use, drug misuse (especially cocaine or amphetamines), older age and family history.

Read more: What is a brain hemorrhage? – Symptoms of brain hemorrhage – Safety alarm after stroke – Automatic fall alarm

Safety alarm with automatic fall alarm can increase safety for people with an increased risk of falling

Sensorem’s personal alarm is an example of a technical aid specially developed for people who have an increased risk of falling. The personal alarm can automatically trigger the alarm in the event of a fall and then call relatives using the watch’s built-in speakerphone with two-way communication. The personal alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s position on a map in the Sensorem app.

 

 

SENSOREM’S PERSONAL ALARM CAN INCREASE SAFETY AFTER A STROKE

References

  • [1] Stroke Association. Types of stroke. https://www.stroke.org.uk
  • [2] Qureshi AI et al. “Intracerebral hemorrhage.” The Lancet, 2009.
  • [3] van Gijn J, Rinkel GJE. “Subarachnoid haemorrhage.” Brain, 2001.