What to do with a headache from subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Written by Li Ai Ping
Neurology
Updated on October 27, 2024
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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 Li Ai Ping
Neurology
51sec home-news-image

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 Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Does subarachnoid hemorrhage have a genetic component?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage, this disease does not have a significant genetic tendency, so there is no need to worry excessively. The main cause of the bleeding is the rupture of an aneurysm, which is due to abnormal blood vessel development resulting in fusiform aneurysms that rupture and bleed under certain conditions. Additionally, there are other causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage, such as long-term smoking which can cause arterial disease, some arteriovenous malformations are also prone to rupture and bleed, and some traumatic injuries can also lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage; these are not hereditary. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rather dangerous condition, so it is essential to control risk factors, properly manage blood pressure, and absolutely avoid smoking. If severe headaches, nausea, and vomiting occur, it is crucial to be highly vigilant and seek medical attention at a hospital immediately.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Subarachnoid hemorrhage: how to treat?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage, the most common cause of which is due to the rupture of an aneurysm. The rupture of an intracranial aneurysm leads to blood entering the subarachnoid space, causing corresponding clinical symptoms. Patients may experience severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, accompanied by significant restlessness, and may also develop complications such as cerebral vasospasm, hydrocephalus, which can be life-threatening. The treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage mainly includes: First, it is recommended to promptly complete a full cerebral angiography. If an aneurysm is found, interventional embolization of the aneurysm may be administered. Second, the patient should be advised to rest in bed and maintain emotional stability. Some sedative medications should be given to the patient. Additionally, calcium channel blockers should be administered to prevent cerebral vasospasm. Furthermore, electrolyte disturbances must be corrected to prevent severe complications such as hydrocephalus.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Pre-symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Before a subarachnoid hemorrhage, patients generally do not exhibit obvious symptoms. However, if a patient suddenly experiences severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and other discomforts, subarachnoid hemorrhage should be suspected. The patient should promptly seek attention and complete a cranial CT scan. If the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage is confirmed, measures should be taken to dehydrate the patient and reduce intracranial pressure. If the patient has a significant amount of intracranial bleeding, surgical treatment should be considered to remove intracranial hematomas and other proactive managements, while dynamically observing changes in the patient's consciousness and pupils.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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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.