After suffering from a head injury, it is crucial to get medical attention. A medical professional is the only person who can tell if your head injury requires serious treatment. They can differentiate between mild, moderate and severe brain trauma and will act accordingly.
One of the fastest ways to ensure you get the treatment you need is to recognize the symptoms of brain injuries. In particular, understanding the signs of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can help you out a great deal.
TBI in physical signs
Mayo Clinic lists the symptoms that might give a traumatic brain injury away. First, the symptoms for TBIs will almost always be more intense and have a faster onset than symptoms for mild to moderate brain injuries. Symptoms can appear in minutes or even seconds after the injury occurs. Physical signs often gain attention first due to their extreme nature. You may notice nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and piercing headaches that worsen over time.
TBI victims also often have dilated pupils of different sizes. In severe cases, clear fluid may leak from the nose or ears. This often points to dramatic trauma that requires immediate care.
Potential mental and behavioral changes
Behavioral and mental changes also indicate a TBI. Many sufferers of brain injury will experience confusion, agitation and distress. The more severe the injury, the more intense these signs will likely be. Some victims may lash out at others and refuse treatment. Others may struggle with short term memory retention and may not know where they are or what just happened.
Finally, victims can experience disorders of consciousness. This includes blacking out, passing out or falling into a coma. Any of these signs should act as an alert that fast medical action is necessary.
