Symptoms and signs of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Written by Wei Shi Liang

Intensive Care Unit

Updated on September 27, 2024

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The typical symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage include headache, vomiting, and sudden severe pain, accompanied by vomiting, pale complexion, and whole-body cold sweats. Additionally, there may be disturbances in consciousness and psychiatric symptoms. Most patients do not experience disturbances in consciousness, but may exhibit restlessness and agitation. Severe cases can show varying degrees of clouded consciousness, and even coma, with a few instances displaying seizures and psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, signs of meningeal irritation are also present, particularly common and pronounced in young and middle-aged patients, characterized by neck stiffness, headaches, and vomiting.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

54sec

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Complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a relatively serious condition. Most patients suffer from this due to the rupture of an aneurysm, while others may have arteriovenous malformations. This disease is associated with complications, with common ones including the following. First, there are acute complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Patients usually experience severe pain and vomiting again after their condition stabilizes, and the mortality rate significantly increases. The second complication is cerebral vasospasm, which typically peaks between three days and two weeks. Cerebral vasospasm can easily lead to vascular occlusion and the subsequent formation of cerebral thrombosis. The third type includes acute or subacute hydrocephalus. Additionally, seizures and electrolyte disorders may also occur as complications.

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Written by Li Ai Ping

Neurology

51sec

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What to do with a headache from subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage, the most typical symptom of which is headache, often manifests as a sudden severe throbbing or bursting pain. The pain may be localized to a specific area of the head, or it may affect the entire head or neck, and it generally persists continuously. If such a headache occurs, one should first rest in bed, avoid emotional excitement and exerting great force, such as coughing, shouting loudly, or straining during bowel movements, etc. If the pain is unbearable, one can ask a doctor for appropriate pain relief medication. However, if the headache suddenly worsens, one should be cautious of the condition deteriorating and should seek medical advice to investigate the cause of the worsening headache. One should not blindly request medication for pain relief, as it may mask the underlying condition.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei

Neurosurgery

1min 1sec

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The difference between cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage

There is a significant difference between cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. For subarachnoid hemorrhage, the specific causes are mainly divided into two types. The first cause is due to trauma, violent strikes, car accidents, or falls from heights, leading to localized vascular rupture and extensive subarachnoid hemorrhage. It generally presents as obvious high-density shadows in the ventricular system or cisterns. The occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage often leads to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, neck stiffness, and positive meningeal irritation signs. The other situation is spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage, most often due to intracranial aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. Cerebral hemorrhage is primarily due to hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, which is more likely to occur, mostly seen in the bilateral basal ganglia, presenting as localized high-density shadows.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

45sec

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage nursing rounds

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rather dangerous disease. Patients may experience significant symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and irritability. There can also be complications related to the nervous system. Besides medical and surgical treatment, nursing care is equally crucial. Key aspects to focus on during nursing rounds include: First, fully assess the patient's consciousness to see if they are alert or have slipped into a coma; second, observe the pupils to check if they are symmetrical and how they react to light; third, examine if there is any noticeable stiffness in the neck or signs of meningeal irritation; additionally, look at the pathological reflexes of the lower limbs; also, observe if the patient's mood is notably irritable; finally, monitor if the patient exhibits complications such as fever, cough, or expectoration, and provide the corresponding treatment.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao

Neurology

1min 18sec

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Subarachnoid hemorrhage is caused by what?

The most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage is the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. The subarachnoid space is located on the surface of the brain, surrounded by three layers of meninges: from inner to outer, they are the pia mater, arachnoid mater, and dura mater. The space between the pia mater and arachnoid mater is known as the subarachnoid space. Following the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm, blood enters this subarachnoid space, leading to hemorrhage. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a critical condition in internal medicine, with a relatively high mortality rate. The most common cause is a cerebral aneurysm, and patients who have suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage should undergo brain MRI and vascular imaging to check for the presence of cerebral aneurysms or vascular abnormalities. If a cerebral aneurysm is present, it needs to be treated promptly. Typical interventions include placing a coiling spring to close off the aneurysm, preventing it from rupturing and thus averting a secondary subarachnoid hemorrhage, which has a mortality rate as high as 50%. Another common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage is brain trauma, which is also a frequent cause of this condition.