Head injuries may cause
bleeding in the brain tissue and the layers that surround the brain
(subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma). Symptoms of a head injury can occur right away or may develop slowly over several hours or days.
What happens if you hit your head?
The most common type of head injury is a
concussion
. That's when a hit in the head makes your brain jiggle around in your skull. You can also get a bruise on your brain, called a contusion. Brain contusions are a lot more serious than bruises from a bump on the arm or leg.
What damage can be caused by hitting your head?
A hard blow to the head can shake your brain inside the skull. The result:
bruises, broken blood vessels, or nerve damage to the brain
. A hard hit that doesn't cause bleeding or an opening in your skull could be a closed brain injury.
Can constantly hitting your head cause damage?
It's thought to be the result of the brain hitting against the hard walls of your skull or the forces of sudden acceleration and deceleration. Generally speaking, the loss of function associated with a concussion is temporary. However,
repeated concussions can eventually lead to permanent damage
.
Can I sleep if I hit my head?
Most medical professionals say
it is fine
—sometimes even advised—to let people sleep after incurring a head injury. The American Academy of Family Physicians states it is not necessary to keep a person awake after a head injury.
How do you know if your brain is bleeding after hitting your head?
Confusion
.
Unequal pupil size
.
Slurred speech
.
Loss of movement (paralysis)
on the opposite side of the body from the head injury.
How can I tell if a head injury is mild or severe?
- Mild head injury: Raised, swollen area from a bump or a bruise. Small, superficial (shallow) cut in the scalp. …
- Moderate to severe head injury (requires immediate medical attention)–symptoms may include any of the above plus: Loss of consciousness.
How do I know if my head injury is serious?
- unconsciousness, either briefly or for a longer period of time.
- difficulty staying awake or still being sleepy several hours after the injury.
- clear fluid leaking from the nose or ears – this could be cerebrospinal fluid, which normally surrounds the brain.
- bleeding from one or both ears.
Should I put ice on my head if I hit it?
Head injuries are often not serious, but brain injuries can be. Any threat of brain damage from a head injury should be checked by a physician.
Ice applied to the bruised area will help control swelling
. Any vision problems or bleeding from the eyes or ears as a result of a head injury warrants a trip to a physician.
How long after hitting head can concussion symptoms start?
In most people, symptoms occur
within the first seven to 10 days
and go away within three months. Sometimes, they can persist for a year or more. The goal of treatment after concussion is to effectively manage your symptoms.
Can hitting your head make you dumber?
Does a brain injury affect a person's intelligence? Brain injury can affect many cognitive abilities that make it more difficult for a person to learn new information. However, most of the time, it does not change a person's overall intelligence.
How long should you stay awake after hitting your head?
For folks in a pinch, here's the quick answer: Do not allow the athlete (or concussed individual) to sleep for at least
3 hours
after the injury. May not need to wake the athlete throughout the night, but monitoring them throughout the night is prudent.
Can hitting your head with your hand cause brain damage?
The Impact of “Minor” Hits
While it's more obvious that experiencing a serious concussion while participating in sports can cause long-term brain damage, a new study in the online journal, PLOS, found that
little hits along the way can cause problems
, too.
What to do if someone fell and hit their head?
The injured person
should lie down with the head and shoulders slightly elevated
. Don't move the person unless necessary, and avoid moving the person's neck. If the person is wearing a helmet, don't remove it. Stop any bleeding.
Should I wake my child after a head injury?
If your child's skin color and breathing are normal, and you don't sense a problem, let your child sleep unless the doctor tells you otherwise.
There's no need to keep a child awake after a head injury
.
Can you get a blood clot from hitting your head?
Epidural hematomas
occur when a blood clot forms underneath the skull, but on top of the tough covering that surrounds the brain (the dura). They usually come from a tear in an artery that runs just under the skull. Epidural hematomas are usually associated with a skull fracture.
