Millions of people experience head injuries every year. Also known as traumatic brain injuries, head injuries can range from mild to severe.
Specific injuries can be wide-ranging too. For instance, they can affect the scalp, the skull, the brain, or the tissue and blood vessels beneath the skin.
The type of treatment required for traumatic brain injuries depends on the severity and exact nature of the injury.
If you should experience a blow or cut to the head, here’s how to deal with the injury promptly.
The Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
First off, by being aware of the common causes of traumatic brain injuries, you can take some steps to help prevent them.
Falls are one of the most common causes, such as falling off a ladder or down the stairs. Sports injuries, violent episodes, and explosive blasts in combat can also cause head injuries.
But probably the most common cause is road accidents. Collisions that involve vehicles and/or pedestrians often cause mild, moderate, or serious traumatic brain injuries.
At least if you’re involved in a car accident that isn’t your fault and you suffer a traumatic brain injury, you can claim compensation to help cover things like medical costs, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering. Start by getting legal advice to deal with car crashes that result in personal injuries.
But you should remember to always follow the rules of the road to reduce the risk of experiencing a head injury from a car accident.
How to Deal with Mild and Moderate Traumatic Brain Injuries
Mild traumatic brain injuries typically need no other treatment besides rest and over-the-counter headache medication.
However, if you should experience a mild head injury, you should still see a doctor to find out whether the injury is actually mild, moderate, or more severe. Your doctor can then recommend the best course of treatment.
If you are found to have a moderate traumatic brain injury, you’ll typically need to be closely monitored at home for some days to ensure your symptoms do not persist or worsen.
A follow-up appointment with your doctor is usually necessary for moderate head injuries. The doctor can recommend when you should return to work and other activities. Most people with moderate head injuries return to their normal routines gradually.
How to Deal with Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries
If you should suffer a severe traumatic brain injury, it’s important you get medical attention immediately.
Medical professionals will need to ensure you have an adequate blood supply and enough oxygen to prevent any further problems. They will make sure your blood pressure is maintained properly too.
Additional treatments like minimizing damage caused by bleeding, inflammation, or reduced oxygen supply to the brain could be required for people with severe traumatic brain injuries.
In some cases, medication could be given to sufferers of severe head injuries. They could include anti-seizure medications, diuretics, and coma-inducing drugs.
If the injury could potentially cause additional damage to brain tissues, emergency surgery may be required to minimize the damage. Surgery could be used to repair skull fractures, remove blood clots, and stop bleeding in the brain, for instance.
People who have experienced significant severe head injuries will usually require rehabilitation to relearn cognitive skills gradually. Therapy plays a big role in the rehabilitation process.
In Summary
If you receive a blow, bump, or cut to the head, you should seek medical attention straight away.
Even if you think the injury is merely a mild head injury, you need to get a professional opinion.
Once a doctor has diagnosed your injury as mild, moderate, or severe, you can receive the right treatment. That can range from getting rest for mild traumatic brain injuries to having surgery for the most severe injuries.