What Can Happen When You Suffer a Bump or Blow to the Head
According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control, more than 1.5 million people seek treatment every year for a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even though your brain is well-protected inside your skull, there are still many different types of serious injury that can result from a fall, car accident or other type of impact:
- A concussion—Generally considered a mild to moderate form of brain injury, a concussion is a jarring or shocking of your brain, often caused when your brain bounces off the inside of your skull. Be aware that you can sustain a concussion, even if you don’t lose consciousness.
- A contusion—A contusion is a medical term for a bruising, which customarily involves internal bleeding and swelling
- An intracranial hematoma—A hematoma involves bleeding. With an intracranial hematoma, you’ll often have a pooling or clotting of blood between your brain and your skull. The signs of a hematoma may not be apparent for days or weeks after your blow to the head
- A skull fracture—Though your skull is dense and hard, it can still crack under sufficient force. Fractures may cause internal bleeding and can sever nerves or cut into your brain.
Treating a Brain Injury
With any type of head injury, you should always seek treatment from your primary care physician, who can determine whether you need to see a specialist, such as a neurologist or physiatrist. For mild brain injuries, your doctor will often prescribe rest and recommend that you avoid bright lights, loud noise or screen time for a few days. For a moderate or severe brain injury, the most important step is to stabilize your injury and ensure that you are getting oxygen to your brain. Your doctor will take any necessary steps to manage blood flow and control your blood pressure. That may involve the use of prescription medications, or may require surgical procedures.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.
