Hypertension and Haemorrhagic Stroke

The appropriate identification of stroke-related symptoms and differentiation between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke subtype at onset of disease is critical in providing prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment. While the incidence of haemorrhagic stroke is much lower when compared to ischaemic subtypes, the severity and associated increased mortality are greater in haemorrhagic stroke than ischaemic stroke. Survival following haemorrhagic stroke is determined by the area of brain bleeding and related tissue damage. Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and intracerebral haemorrhage (IH) are the two major types of haemorrhagic stroke. SAH refers to bleeding into the subarachnoid space located between the arachnoid membrane and pia mater, an area filled with cerebrospinal fluid providing protection for the brain from injury. Intracranial haemorrhage is the pathological accumulation of blood in the functional tissue, known as brain parenchyma with further extension of bleeding into the ventricles known as intracerebral haemorrhage. While the underlying pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis depend on the type of haemorrhage, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, SAH and IH result in a loss of cognitive function and subsequent death.