Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama, the “father” of the world-famous comic series, has passed away at the age of 68 due to a rare medical condition.
Dragon Ball – 7 Dragon Balls, created by Akira Toriyama, is a manga series that has become iconic for the generations of the 80s and early 90s. It began as a serialized manga in Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan and has since spread internationally through beloved manga and anime adaptations.
According to the Dragon Ball account on X, Toriyama died from acute subdural hematoma. Sources indicate that before his passing, he was still passionately working on several projects and had many ideas in the pipeline.
Akira Toriyama – The father of “7 Dragon Balls”.
What is Subdural Hematoma?
Subdural hematoma is a collection of blood that forms in the space beneath the outer covering of the brain. It is usually caused by head trauma. Such injuries can damage blood vessels in the subdural space, leading to bleeding and the formation of clots that can compress brain tissue.
Causes and Symptoms
The primary cause is usually severe head trauma that tears the veins in the subdural space. This tear allows blood to flow into the space and coagulate, forming a mass that compresses brain tissue.
Other causes may include damage to superficial veins in the cortex or the sinuses within the veins.
Symptoms of acute subdural hematoma typically appear immediately following a head injury or within a few hours. They include:
- Due to the severity of the brain injury, most patients are comatose right after the trauma. Some may experience a brief period of lucidity before symptoms develop and they fall into a coma.
- Deep coma, with rigidity and generalized seizures
- Nausea and repeated vomiting
- Severe headache
- Dizziness
- Difficulty speaking and eating
- Difficulty moving
- Confusion, forgetfulness, or memory loss
- Half of the body opposite the brain injury is paralyzed (weakness or paralysis of one limb)
- Abnormal breathing
- Temperature and heart rate disturbances.
Who is at Risk for Subdural Hematoma?
Subdural hematoma can occur at any age. However, certain individuals are at a higher risk of developing this condition following head trauma:
Older adults: In individuals over 60, some blood vessels around the brain may become weaker, making them more susceptible to injury and bleeding. As we age, the brain may shrink slightly within the skull, putting stress on blood vessels and increasing the risk of bleeding during head trauma.
Alcoholics: Alcohol abuse can affect blood clotting abilities and may lead to brain atrophy similar to aging. This also stresses blood vessels, increasing the risk of bleeding. Alcoholics are more prone to falls and head injuries.
Individuals on anticoagulant medication: Treatment with anticoagulants (including Aspirin or Warfarin) can increase the likelihood of subdural hematoma after a head injury.
Infants: In infants, subdural hematomas may occur due to torn veins in the subdural space, sometimes due to child abuse. However, not all subdural hematomas in infants are caused by domestic violence, and this should not always be assumed. Subdural hematomas in children can also occur due to other causes, such as accidental head trauma.
