hemorrhagic stroke

[nana08902]

My husband recently passed away from a hemorrhagic stroke.  The doctor said hypertension was the cause. There seemed to be no warning signs except on the day it happened.  He had a terrible headache and went downhill from there.  He was taking all his medication--plavix, 325 mg of asprin, blood pressure medicine, etc.  and was doing fine.  He did have very bad back pain but finally got relief and was back to himself for a month and a half.  This stroke came on so suddenly....did I miss something?  His pressure was under control and he was feeling good.  I'm really at a loss that all this happened so quickly. Could we have missed warning signs? Once they put a breathing tube in him, did the hospital feel that he wasn't going to make it?

[Rowena Santos, MD]

Hi,

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts inside the brain, bleeds and causes swelling. Most often, hemorrhagic stroke is associated with high blood pressure, which stresses the artery walls until they break. Other causes include aneurysm and malformation. This is less common but more frequently fatal than ischemic stroke. Long term hypertension, even if controlled may have contributed as in the case of your husband. It would really help if you discuss this with your  doctor.

Take care and regards.

[nana08902]

Thank you for your response.  I always thought that once you were on blood pressure medicine and your pressure remained good that there would be little to worry about down the road. Again, thank you for your comments.