Hemorrhagic Strokes on the Increase

Strokes caused by bleeding in the brain have increased worldwide, researchers report in the journal Lancet. This type of stroke is called intracerebral hemorrhage. The article focused on bleeding strokes that are caused by a burst blood vessel, not an injury (trauma). Hospital admissions for this type of stroke have increased 18% in the last 10 years, the article says. This means that for every 100 such strokes that occurred 10 years ago, 118 occur now. The authors say one cause is the increase in the number of elderly people. Many of them have high blood pressure that is not well controlled. Use of drugs to prevent blood clots also has greatly increased. Bleeding can be a side effect of these drugs. Better hospital treatment is needed, the authors say.