Head traumas are more common than you may think and have various causes. An accident that causes a whiplash injury, or a fall resulting in a contusion, may all be associated with head trauma.
Head trauma encompass a wide range of conditions, from minor bumps to debilitating injuries that require immediate medical attention. For this reason, don’t ignore any incident that might’ve caused injury to your head, such as slip and fall accidents. Immediate response to head trauma is critical, as some patients with traumatic brain injuries begin to fight for their life after the trauma.
Before learning about specific symptoms of head trauma, it’s best for you to better understand the condition.
What Are Head Traumas?
There are two major types of brain injury: acute and chronic. Acute brain injuries are usually a result of a serious event, such as falling or another penetrating trauma. Chronic traumatic brain injuries happen over a longer period—throughout someone’s athletic career, for example.
Physical activities like sports and accidents like car crashes, falls, and violence are the common causes of head traumas. A concussion is the most common head injury, which may lead to the temporary loss of brain function.
When a person experiences trauma to the head from a fall, crash, or blunt force, they may manifest mild to severe symptoms. Because serious head injuries can result in lesions to the scalp and damage to the skull, damage to the brain can occur even if there are no obvious signs of trauma. Fortunately, developments in medical technology are helping professionals detect these injuries more effectively. You can click here to read about scientific and medical innovations that allow easier detection of concussions to save more lives.
Now that you know more about the different types of head traumas and their causes, read on to learn more about some of their specific symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Head Trauma?
The symptoms of a concussion can vary greatly. In some cases, the patient may just be mildly uncomfortable, while others experience more severe symptoms. For instance, in someone who has suffered a concussion, loss of consciousness can occur after only a few minutes. Others may feel weak or disoriented, or a headache can develop that can feel worse if not given attention. The following are symptoms of head trauma after impact:
1. Headaches
A headache that develops after a head injury can be classified as a symptom of head trauma. In most cases, a headache is a warning sign that something’s going on in the brain. Sometimes, a headache that develops after a head injury can be severe enough that it should be considered a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical attention. Other times, the patient can go back to normal activity within a few hours or a day. It’s important to remember those post-traumatic headaches should never be ignored.
2. Loss Of Consciousness
Some victims lose their consciousness after an accident, especially one that resulted in a blunt force trauma to the head. The loss of consciousness can be sudden or gradual. In some cases, loss of consciousness can also be accompanied by some other symptoms like blurred vision, vomiting, temporary blindness or deafness, and so on.
3. Nausea And Vomiting
Untreated nausea and vomiting can have serious consequences, particularly in the case of severe head trauma. When vomiting or nausea does occur following a head injury, it’s important to consult a physician right away to rule out internal bleeding. If nothing is found during an initial examination, a CT scan or MRI may be conducted to get a clearer picture of what’s going on.
4. Bleeding
Traumatic brain injury victims may suffer from concussions, seizures, hematomas, and skull fractures. Depending on the severity of the head trauma, there may be abrasions, bruises, and cuts on the head and scalp. Bleeding may be present or sometimes there’s leakage of fluid from the ears or nose. However, just because there’s no obvious bleeding does not mean the victim isn’t severely injured. Internal bleeding may occur with a closed head injury. To rule out hemorrhage after head trauma, it’s essential to consult with a health professional immediately.
Aside from the symptoms above, abnormalities in body functions like the pulse, blood pressure, temperature, reflexes, and skin temperature can also be observed after a head injury. Signs of neurological deficits after a traumatic brain injury may include loss of balance, lack of coordination, loss of memory, seizures, and coma.
Takeaway
If you’ve experienced any or all of these symptoms, you must contact your doctor immediately for an accurate assessment of your injuries. Your physician will be able to properly determine whether or not you sustained a concussion and its severity based on the symptoms that you’ve experienced.
The sooner you get the care that you need, the less chance you’ll have of developing permanent damage to brain tissue. While there are many different ways to treat and handle brain injuries, there’s no magic bullet when it comes to dealing with symptoms. A qualified professional will be able to give you the best advice available and help you through the process of healing and rehabilitation.
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