Symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke

Symptoms of a stroke caused by bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke) are also present in a stroke caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke). Symptoms more specific to hemorrhagic stroke include:

• Severe headache, sometimes in a specific area.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Neck stiffness.
• Dizziness, seizures, or changes in mental state, such as irritability, confusion, and possibly unconsciousness.

Hemorrhagic strokes usually occur during the daytime and during physical activity. Symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke typically begin very suddenly (within seconds) and evolve over several hours.

People with very high, uncontrolled blood pressure may have one or more symptoms before they have a hemorrhagic stroke, including:

• Severe headache in the back of the head or top of the neck.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Tingling or numbness in an arm or leg or an inability to move an arm. These symptoms may come and go.
• Periods of confusion and disorientation.