Blood irritates the tissues of the brain and may cause swelling (cerebral edema). Blood collects into a mass (hematoma). Both cerebral edema and the presence of a hematoma within the brain will put increasing pressure on the tissues of the brain and can destroy those tissues.
Blood may collect in the subarachnoid space and irritate the membranes covering the brain (meningeal irritation). Complications will vary depending on the extent of damage and the location of the bleed:
Any type of intracerebral hemorrhage is a severe condition ("brain attack") requiring prompt medical attention. It may develop quickly into a life-threatening situation.
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