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Haemorrhagic stroke Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, March 2009.

Answers to questions about haemorrhagic stroke

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

Is a haemorrhagic stroke worse than an ischaemic stroke?

Haemorrhagic strokes do tend to be more severe. However the effects of any type of stroke vary from person to person.

Explanation

Haemorrhagic strokes do tend to be more severe than ischaemic strokes, and people who have this type of stroke are often more unwell. However, the damage caused by any type of stroke varies from person to person. While both haemorrhagic and ischaemic strokes can be fatal for some people, other people recover and learn to cope with the damage caused by the stroke - and people who have had either type of stroke can go on to make a full recovery.

However, it's true that people who have had a haemorrhagic stroke are less likely to survive and are more likely to have long-term problems than those who have had an ischaemic stroke. The sooner someone who has had a stroke gets treatment, the better the chance of a recovery - that's why it's important to get help as quickly as possible.

Further information

Sources

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How does cocaine cause a stroke?

Cocaine increases blood pressure, and high blood pressure can lead to a haemorrhagic stroke. It can also increase blood clotting, which increases risk of ischaemic stroke.

Explanation

Cocaine can cause ischaemic or haemorrhagic strokes, although in the powder form in which it's usually taken, haemorrhagic strokes are much more likely.

Cocaine causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow), leading to a sudden, temporary rise in blood pressure. This can weaken blood vessels, causing them to burst.

You're also at greater risk of having a haemorrhagic stroke after taking cocaine if you have pre-existing abnormalities, involving the blood vessels in your brain, such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or an intracerebral aneurysm. Many people who have these types of abnormality are unaware that they have it.

A haemorrhagic stroke can occur within seconds of you taking cocaine. However, it can also occur as much as 12 hours later.

Sources

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What is an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and how will I know if I have one?

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle of blood vessels, formed when blood vessels don't connect together properly. Many people are unaware they have an AVM, although they can sometimes cause symptoms such as headaches, seizures and more rarely - stroke.

Explanation

Normally, your arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart) are connected to your veins (blood vessels that carry blood back to your heart) by a network of very fine blood vessels, called capillaries. In an AVM, the capillaries are missing - and the arteries and veins join together in a complex tangle. This puts the blood in the blood vessels under intense pressure, and can eventually lead to a blood vessel bursting (a haemorrhage).

AVMs are rare - less than one in 100 people have one. You may not even realise if you do have an AVM - it's usually something you're born with, and while some people get symptoms such as headaches and seizures, many people don't get any symptoms at all. Only about two in 100 people who have an AVM get a haemorrhage in the brain every year. And sometimes these haemorrhages are too small to produce any symptoms.

If you're found to have an AVM, your doctor or surgeon may recommend surgery to remove the defective blood vessels or treatment to block the blood vessels that make up the AVM.

Further information

Sources

  • Vascular malformations of the brain. The Brain and Spine Foundation. www.brainandspine.org.uk, accessed 1 December 2008
  • Arteriovenous malformations and other vascular lesions of the central nervous system fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. www.ninds.nih.gov, accessed 1 December 2008
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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: March 2009

 

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