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A subarachnoid hemorrhage, a medical emergency that can lead to death or severe disability, accounts for 1 to 7 percent of all strokes. The HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn and John C. Lincoln, Deer Valley medical centers offer comprehensive treatment options for subarachnoid hemorrhages — traumatic and non-traumatic alike.
A subarachnoid hemorrhage is a serious, life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues called subarachnoid space that cover the brain. When blood is released into the subarachnoid space, it irritates the lining of the brain, increases pressure on it, and damages brain cells.
Causes include:
A subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs in approximately 40 to 50 out of 100,000 individuals over 30. It’s slightly most common in women than men. Risks include:
The main symptom of a subarachnoid hemorrhage is a severe headache that starts suddenly; it’s often worse near the back of the head. Often termed the worst headache ever, it may start after you have a popping or snapping feeling in the head. Other symptoms include:
If you or someone you know has any symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, call 911 immediately.
The first priority of your HonorHealth neurologist is stabilizing the patient. Tests for subarachnoid hemorrhages depend on the underlying cause of the bleeding and the extent of damage to the brain:
One of the first measures after a subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs is to stop the bleeding or prevent the risk of bleeding again. If a subarachnoid hemorrhage is from a ruptured aneurysm, surgery could be performed to stop the bleeding. Treatment options are either surgical or endovascular intervention.
Recovery largely depends on the severity. In general, one-third of patients will survive with good recovery. You may suffer from short-term and/or long-term deficits as well.
Common problems faced by patients following a brain injury include: