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Intracranial Hemorrhage

Neurosurgery located in Birmingham, AL

Intracranial Hemorrhage services offered in Birmingham, AL


A brain bleed, or intracranial hemorrhage, is a serious injury that increases your risk of brain damage and death. At Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine in Birmingham, Alabama, the board-certified neurosurgeons specialize in diagnosing and treating various types of intracranial hemorrhage, including subdural and epidural hematomas and intracerebral hemorrhages. Call the office to request an intracranial hemorrhage consultation today, or make an appointment online.

Intracranial Hemorrhage Q&A

What is an intracranial hemorrhage?

An intracranial hemorrhage refers to bleeding in your brain. Sometimes, it’s due to an injury or trauma; other times, it’s because of an underlying health problem, like a stroke. 

Intracranial hemorrhages are life-threatening emergencies. Call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately if you suspect a brain bleed.

What are the types of intracranial hemorrhage?

Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine treats several types of intracranial hemorrhages, including:

Epidural hemorrhage

An epidural hemorrhage refers to bleeding between your skull bone and the outermost layer of your brain, called the dura mater.

Subdural hemorrhage

A subdural hemorrhage refers to bleeding between the dura mater (the outer layer of your brain) and the arachnoid membrane (the layer just beneath).

Intracerebral hemorrhage

An intracerebral hemorrhage refers to bleeding in the lobes, pons, or cerebellum of the brain.

What causes intracranial hemorrhages?

Intracranial hemorrhages (brain bleeds) occur for various reasons, including:

  • Head trauma
  • High blood pressure
  • Atherosclerosis (build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries)
  • Ruptured cerebral aneurysm
  • Brain tumor
  • Bleeding disorders

Lifestyle factors can increase the risk of intracranial hemorrhages, including drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, smoking, and using drugs like cocaine.

How is an intracranial hemorrhage diagnosed?

Your Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine provider reviews your health charts, asks about your symptoms, and completes a neurological exam. They then order diagnostic imaging, like CT scans or MRIs, to identify the location and severity of the brain bleed. 

If these steps don’t provide enough insight into your condition, your provider orders additional tests, such as a complete vascular study or spinal tap.

How are intracranial hemorrhages treated?

Intracranial hemorrhages are medical emergencies that require immediate treatment. Often, the best way to prevent severe complications is with surgery. That’s especially true if the brain bleed is because of an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation.

You might also benefit from:

  • Prescription anti-anxiety drugs
  • Anti-epileptic drugs for seizure management
  • Painkillers to relieve headaches
  • Stool softeners to prevent straining during bowel movements

If you suffer a stroke or another severe injury, you may need to enroll in physical, occupational, or speech therapy.

Call Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine to learn more about the treatment of intracranial hemorrhages today, or make an appointment online.