Which of the following is a potential contributor to a hemorrhagic brain attack?

• A. Atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries
• B. Hypertension
• C. Ischemic stroke due to thrombosis
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (B)

Hypertension directly weakens and damages the small penetrating arteries in the brain. Over time, high pressure causes changes like lipohyalinosis and hyaline arteriolosclerosis, thinning and irregularity of vessel walls. These fragile vessels are prone to rupture, leading to bleeding within brain tissue known as an intracerebral hemorrhage, a classic hemorrhagic stroke. So elevated blood pressure is a direct, well-established contributor to hemorrhagic brain injury.

By comparison, atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries tends to cause ischemic events through narrowed flow or emboli; an ischemic stroke caused by thrombosis is not hemorrhagic; dehydration can influence stroke risk but doesn’t specifically predispose to hemorrhage in the same direct way hypertension does.