Brett Michaels suffers brain hemorrhage, rushed to hospital; Brain Hemorrhage 101

According to reports, Brett Michaels was rushed to the hospital late Thursday night after suffering from a brain hemorrhage near his brain stem.

Michaels is reportedly in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital. According to the rep, Michaels was suffering from excruciating headaches earlier in the day.

Michaels underwent several tests, the rep says, including CAT Scans and MRIs. 

Michaels suffered from a "subarachnoid hemorrhage" -- bleeding at the base of his brain stem. 

But Michaels is receiving excellent treatment and will hopefully pull through

, people who don't receive proper medical treatment after suffering a subarachnoid hemorrhage have a 20% to 30% chance of experiencing a second bleed within the first month -- and the odds of surviving a second bleed are extremely slim. 

Cedars states, "Recurrent bleeding has a 70% mortality rate."

Fortunately, Michaels is reportedly being treated in a capable medical center. 

However, it appears as though Michaels is already beating the odds -- Cedars reports that roughly 1/3 of people who have a subarachnoid hemorrhage die during the hemorrhage because of extensive brain damage. Obviously, Michaels has already cleared that hurdle.  

As for Michaels' treatment, Cedars warns, "Because of the ominous prognosis with delayed definitive therapy, referral to a center of excellence with experience in treating subarachnoid hemorrhage is imperative."

Our prayers go out to Brett Michaels and his family at this time.  There are some facts on brain hemorrhages that you need to know.


A brain hemmorhage can be caused by any number of things including:

• Head trauma. Injury is the most common cause of bleeding in the brain for those under 50.
• High blood pressure. This chronic condition can, over a long period of time, weaken blood vessel walls. Untreated high blood pressure is a major preventable cause of brain hemorrhages.
• Aneurysm. This is a weakening in a blood vessel wall that swells. It can burst and bleed into the brain, leading to a stroke.
• Blood vessel abnormalities. Weaknesses in the blood vessels in and around the brain may be present at birth and diagnosed only if symptoms develop.
• Amyloid angiopathy. This is an abnormality of the blood vessel walls that sometimes occurs with aging. It may cause many small, unnoticed bleeds before causing a large one.
• Blood or bleeding disorders. Hemophilia and sickle cell anemia can both contribute to decreased levels of blood platelets.
• Liver disease. This condition is associated with increased bleeding in general.
• Brain tumors.

There are several symptoms to a brain hemorrhage that may occur suddenly or get worse over time.  They depend on the location and severity of bleeding and the amount of tissue affected:

• a sudden severe headache
• seizures with no previous history of seizures
• weakness in an arm or leg
• nausea or vomiting
• decreased alertness; lethargy
• changes in vision
• tingling or numbness
• difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• difficulty swallowing
• difficulty writing or reading
• loss of fine motor skills, such as hand tremors
• loss of coordination
• loss of balance
• an abnormal sense of taste
• loss of consciousness

For more info on brain hemorrhages including how they can be prevented, click here