Intracerebral hemorrhage is a menacing acute condition that often catches people off guard. Many people mistakenly think that the only sign of a brain hemorrhage is a sudden, severe headache, but in fact, the early signs of a brain hemorrhage are much more than that. In my clinical work, I have found that many patients have intracerebral hemorrhage that starts with some small symptoms that are easy to ignore. These symptoms are like "health traps" hidden in daily life, and if left unaddressed, the best time to intervene can be missed.

Blurred vision: a "distress signal" from the brain

I once saw a young woman who was under a lot of pressure and spent a lot of time in front of a computer screen. She told me that lately, she has always felt blurred vision, and her vision seems to be obscured by a layer of haze. At first, she thought it was worsening myopia or dry eyes, and even tried to wear glasses to alleviate it, but the blurred vision not only did not improve, but it became more and more serious, and even accompanied by dizziness.

After examination, I found that her brain MRI showed abnormal changes in the blood vessels in the brain, and some of the blood vessel walls became fragile and there was a risk of rupture. Blurred vision isn't always caused by problems with the eye itself, especially when there is no obvious eye disease, which can be a harbinger of a brain health problem. Studies have found that blurred vision caused by cerebrovascular disease often stems from insufficient blood supply to the areas of the brain responsible for vision. This blurred vision is one of the important warning signs of a brain hemorrhage, but many people ignore it.

Sudden aphasia or slurred speech: an "alarm" of speech function

There is also a patient who usually needs to have frequent meetings and speak. One day, he found himself having difficulty speaking, his speech was intermittent, and he even slurred his speech. He thought it was overtiredness and didn't pay much attention to it. However, after a few days, the symptoms became more pronounced, and even when talking to colleagues, he sometimes couldn't find the right words.

After a detailed examination, I found signs of bleeding on the right side of his brain, and part of the blood vessel in his brain had ruptured. Sudden aphasia or slurred speech is often one of the early manifestations of cerebrovascular disease. Similar symptoms occur when the area of the brain responsible for language function is undersupplied with blood or when a blood vessel ruptures. Studies have shown that about 25% of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage experience transient aphasia or speech difficulties before major symptoms develop. These symptoms are usually short-lived and intermittent, and can easily be mistaken for stress or fatigue.

Sudden dizziness and imbalance: a sense of balance

I also met a patient who is usually in good health, and she told me that she has been feeling dizzy a lot lately, especially when walking or standing up, her body seems to lose her balance, and sometimes she even feels like the world is spinning. At first, she thought it was because she was getting older and her balance was declining, but after resting for a while, the symptoms still did not improve.

After examination, I found that there was already a cerebrovascular abnormality on the CT image of her brain, and the bleeding in the brain had already begun, although it was not violent, but there were already signs of hematoma. This feeling of dizziness and imbalance is not a simple symptom of old age, but an early manifestation of insufficient blood supply to the brain and rupture of cerebral blood vessels. Studies have found that dizziness and imbalance caused by rupture of cerebral blood vessels mostly occur in the process of increasing hematoma pressure, and the formation of hematoma will directly compress the brain, especially the part of balance and coordination control.

Sudden mood swings and abnormal behavior: "out of control" of emotions

Finally, I met a middle-aged male patient whose symptoms were not typical. Instead of headaches, blurred vision, or dizziness, he suddenly became emotionally fluctuating, sometimes angry, sometimes depressed, and seemed to be completely out of control. At first, his family thought he was under too much pressure at work, but as time went on, his behavior became more and more abnormal and even a little out of control.

After a series of tests, I found that he already had the first signs of bleeding in his brain, especially vascular abnormalities in areas related to emotional regulation. Studies have shown that the early stages of intracerebral hemorrhage, especially when small blood vessels rupture, may affect the emotional regulation center of the brain, leading to sudden mood swings and abnormal behavior. These symptoms are often overlooked or misunderstood as mental health problems, when in reality, they can be warning signs of cerebrovascular problems.

Early Recognition, Timely Intervention: The Key to Brain Health

Intracerebral hemorrhage does not happen overnight, and its precursors are often seemingly insignificant details. Blurred vision, dizziness, unbalanced, sudden speech disturbances, mood swings...... These symptoms can easily be attributed to stress, older age, or other lifestyle issues, thus missing out on the opportunity for timely treatment. Knowing these seemingly inconspicuous warning signs may help you take timely steps to avoid serious consequences before a brain hemorrhage actually occurs.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu