Any trauma to the head — including your skull, scalp, or brain — is considered a head injury and can be potentially serious. Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, skull fractures, and lacerations to the scalp are all classified as head injuries.
Head injuries can be deceiving. If you suffer an open injury, you may witness a lot of bleeding that is concerning but can be minor. A closed injury may have done a lot of damage to your brain, but the signs aren’t evident upon initial examination.
If you or a loved one suffers a head injury, get it checked at Clear Creek ER. When it comes to your brain, it’s much better to take every precaution.
Symptoms of a minor head injury
If you suffer a fall or blow to your head, you may experience minor symptoms such as lightheadedness, mild confusion, nausea, and a headache. These may appear immediately after the head injury or fail to show up for a few days. Always monitor your symptoms for several days following trauma.
Symptoms of a severe head injury
In addition to the minor head injury symptoms, you may experience seizures, vomiting, balance and coordination problems, and memory loss. If you lost consciousness, even for a moment, after a head injury, it’s important to have it checked out by the staff at Clear Creek ER. Confusion or disorientation following a head injury are also signs of concern.
Other signs to watch for that might signal a more serious head injury include changes in mood, worsening headache, or vision troubles. If symptoms of a head injury, even a seemingly minor one, persist for several days following the incident, you should also stop by Clear Creek ER for evaluation.
Signs of concussion
A common head injury is a concussion, which describes a temporary loss of normal brain function due to an injury. Repeated concussions can be of serious concern because they may cause permanent damage to the brain. A one-time, mild concussion doesn’t usually cause long-term damage, however.
Signs of concussion include lightheadedness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, headaches, vomiting, problems with decision-making, and trouble with balance. If you suspect a concussion, seek evaluation at Clear Creek ER as a precaution.
Treatment options
How we at Clear Creek ER treat your head injury depends on the type and severity of your case. In minor instances, over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, can help with discomfort and temporary symptoms. But avoid drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin because they can increase bleeding — both internally and externally.
If you or your child has a superficial wound on the scalp that’s causing lots of bleeding, it may need stitches.
You can sleep following a head injury, but have someone nearby who can awaken you every couple of hours to ensure you’re OK. In serious cases of injury, you may need to be admitted to a hospital.
Don’t ignore a head injury. Even if you can’t see external signs of damage, a lot can happen internally that compromises your health and long-term function.