Feeling fine after hitting your head can be misleading: Brain injury symptoms to watch for
New Delhi: A head injury may initially seem minor, with no immediate pain or other noticeable symptoms. However, some brain injuries can become apparent only hours later, particularly when bleeding develops gradually inside the skull. As blood accumulates, pressure within the skull can rise, potentially leading to serious complications.
In a communication with News9 Digital, Dr Sharad S Rajamani, Director and Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery, Skull Base and Vascular, Endoscopic Cranial and Spinal Surgery, KIMS Hospitals, Mahadevapura, explains why symptoms may be delayed, which warning signs require attention, who faces a higher risk and what steps to take after a head injury.
Why can symptoms be delayed?
“When trauma occurs, blood vessels can rupture and lead to bleeding inside the skull. Most of the time, bleeding happens quickly, but sometimes it is a slow leak, so there are no major symptoms for a while. As blood accumulates, pressure inside the skull builds up, causing symptoms. This creates a sense of false security, and then when they doze off, it is attributed to tiredness and can be fatal,” explained Dr Sharad S Rajamani.
What to watch for?
“If someone suffers a head injury leading to a headache that continually worsens with recurrent vomiting, drowsiness that intensifies along with confusion, this should not be dismissed as inconsequential. Other red-flag symptoms include difficulty speaking, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, problems with balance and walking, convulsions, and unusual behaviours such as blurred or double vision and unequal pupils,” said Dr Rajamani.
“Loss of consciousness is another major warning sign. However, there may still be serious brain injuries even if a person has not lost consciousness. Symptoms that manifest or intensify in the hours following the injury need to be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible,” he stated.
Who should be especially cautious?
“Elderly individuals or those on blood-thinner drugs could have an increased risk of excessive bleeding after a head injury. Nevertheless, severe consequences can happen to anyone. This includes strong blows to the head due to car accidents and falls,” cautioned the doctor.
“Rarely in the elderly, a clot can develop as late as three months later. Slow, multiple leaking episodes can cause symptoms similar to dementia or psychological patterns of behaviour like lethargy, depression, aggression, etc,” he added.
What should you do after a head injury?
“Someone who has sustained serious trauma should not simply depend on the fact that the individual feels fine immediately after the accident. A medical check-up might be needed depending on various factors such as the type of injury, symptoms of the traumatised person, age and other factors,” Dr Rajamani said.
Feeling fine immediately after a head injury does not rule out brain damage. Delayed or worsening symptoms require prompt medical assessment.