Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

What causes the hypertension often seen in patients with an intracerebral hemorrhage?

1. Increased fluid volume

2. The body's attempt to shunt blood to the brain

3. Adrenaline release

4. Non-compliance with antihypertensive medication

The correct answer is: The body's attempt to shunt blood to the brain

The hypertension observed in patients with an intracerebral hemorrhage is primarily a result of the body's attempt to restore perfusion to the brain. When there is bleeding within the brain tissue, it leads to increased pressure and potential impairment of blood flow. To counteract this, the autonomic nervous system activates various compensatory mechanisms that increase systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output. This helps to shunt blood to the affected areas of the brain in an effort to maintain adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery despite the compromised environment. In this context, the body's response is critical as it aims to preserve brain function even in the face of injury. Additionally, cerebral autoregulation may be impacted due to the hemorrhage, leading to further increases in blood pressure to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure. The other options, while they may play a role in hypertension in general or in other specific circumstances, do not directly relate to the physiological reaction occurring during an intracerebral hemorrhage in the same way.