Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesCommon CausesSymptomsWhen to See a ProviderDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Common Causes
Symptoms
When to See a Provider
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Head injuries can cause damage to the brain or skull. Prevention is important and can include habits like wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle or wearing a seat belt while in a moving car.
Mild head injuries are fairly common and don’t cause lasting problems. However, it can be hard to tell whether a head injury is mild or serious. Get medical attention if you think you might be experiencing symptoms after a head injury. Prompt and appropriate care can make the difference between lasting brain damage and a full recovery.
This article will discuss types of head injuries, common causes, symptoms, when to see a healthcare provider, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
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Types of Head Injuries
There are several types of head injuries. Generally, more severe head injuries involve more than one type.
Types of head injuries:
Another type of head injury,chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), is a progressive condition that develops from repeated concussions. This extensive brain damage can cause serious problems with memory, thinking, and emotions.
Cerebral Contusion vs. Concussion
Any blow to the head can cause a head injury. An intense, rapid bump is more likely to cause a head injury than a gentle or slow bump.
Causes can include:
With head trauma, damage can occur due to the following physical changes:
After head trauma, any combination of these injuries can occur. For example, a severe, penetrating head injury can cause a scalp laceration, fracture, contusion, concussion, and bleeding.
After a head injury, symptoms usually begin immediately, especially if the injury is serious, but some symptoms might not start until several days later. Head pain is the most common immediate symptom.
Common symptoms of a head injury include:
Serious symptoms after a head injury include:
Some of the symptoms of a head injury depend on the type and severity of the injury:
Severe head injuries can also increase the risk of dementia later in life.
Get Medical AttentionYou should get medical attention if you have a major traumatic injury, whether you have symptoms or not.
Get Medical Attention
You should get medical attention if you have a major traumatic injury, whether you have symptoms or not.
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When to See a Healthcare Provider
After any head injury, even if it seems mild, get medical attention if you or someone else develops the following symptoms:
Your evaluation for a head injury should be soon after the injury. Don’t delay getting to a healthcare provider if you’re having symptoms.
The diagnosis is meant to identify the type and severity of the head injury and to determine the next steps for treatment. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about what happened, your immediate symptoms, and any later developing symptoms if it’s been a while since your injury.
You will have a comprehensiveneurological examination, which can detect evidence of serious brain damage.
Other tests you might have include:
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Head injuries are treated in different ways. Symptomatic treatment usually includes pain management. Rest is usually recommended. Sometimes rehabilitation is needed to regain strength, balance, or other skills.
Specific treatments may include:
Head injuries may lead to emotional and personality changes, which can be made worse if the incident causing the injury was traumatic. Counseling and psychological therapy can help with coping after a severe head injury.
Head injuries can’t always be prevented, but there are some precautions you can take. If you participate in sports that cause direct head trauma, such as boxing or football, wearing a proper helmet can reduce the risk of injuries.
Additionally, it’s important to wear a proper-fitting helmet when riding a motorcycle or a bicycle, because there is a risk of falling.
Prevent Falls After an InjuryIf you are recovering from any type of injury or surgery that has caused you to become weak or off-balance, it’s vital to take precautions to avoid falling. Having a second injury is very common during recovery from an injury.
Prevent Falls After an Injury
If you are recovering from any type of injury or surgery that has caused you to become weak or off-balance, it’s vital to take precautions to avoid falling. Having a second injury is very common during recovery from an injury.
Summary
The effects of a head injury can range from mild to severe. Head injuries can involve the scalp, skull, meninges, brain, or blood vessels. Recovery can take time, and serious injuries may require treatment with surgery or other medical interventions. Medication and rehabilitation can help throughout the recovery period.
A Word From Verywell
If you or someone you care about has had a head injury, it’s normal to feel stressed and uncertain. Healing and recovery can be a slow process. Usually there’s steady improvement.
If your improvement lags or if you backslide a little, be reassured that this is expected and it’s not necessarily a sign of any problem. Discuss any concerns you have with your healthcare team, who will help you get through the next steps of care and into recovery.
It can be hard to know if a head injury is serious. Sometimes serious head injuries cause distressing symptoms, but they can also cause lethargy, a lack of energy that makes you want to sleep. If in doubt, get medical attention right away for yourself or for someone else who has had a head injury.Learn MoreHow to Recognize a Head Injury
It can be hard to know if a head injury is serious. Sometimes serious head injuries cause distressing symptoms, but they can also cause lethargy, a lack of energy that makes you want to sleep. If in doubt, get medical attention right away for yourself or for someone else who has had a head injury.
Learn MoreHow to Recognize a Head Injury
It’s best to get medical attention if you think you or someone else has had a concussion. Testing at home is not adequate for detecting the effects of a concussion.Learn MoreRecognizing a Concussion
It’s best to get medical attention if you think you or someone else has had a concussion. Testing at home is not adequate for detecting the effects of a concussion.
Learn MoreRecognizing a Concussion
The only way to know for sure whether your brain is bleeding after you’ve hit your head is with a brain imaging test. A brain computed tomography (CT) scan is typically sensitive for bleeding in the brain.If you have symptoms after hitting your head, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Your medical team can talk to you about your symptoms and examine you to decide if you need testing.
The only way to know for sure whether your brain is bleeding after you’ve hit your head is with a brain imaging test. A brain computed tomography (CT) scan is typically sensitive for bleeding in the brain.
If you have symptoms after hitting your head, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Your medical team can talk to you about your symptoms and examine you to decide if you need testing.
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5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Murai S, Hishikawa T, Takeda Y, et al.Depolarization time and extracellular glutamate levels aggravate ultraearly brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):10256. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14360-1National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common TBI symptoms?Mielke MM, Ransom JE, Mandrekar J, et al.Traumatic brain injury and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the population.J Alzheimers Dis.2022 Jun 13. doi:10.3233/JAD-220159Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.Hubbard WB, Sim MMS, Saatman KE, Sullivan PG, Wood JP.Tissue factor release following traumatic brain injury drives thrombin generation.Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2022;6(4):e12734. doi:10.1002/rth2.12734
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Murai S, Hishikawa T, Takeda Y, et al.Depolarization time and extracellular glutamate levels aggravate ultraearly brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):10256. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14360-1National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common TBI symptoms?Mielke MM, Ransom JE, Mandrekar J, et al.Traumatic brain injury and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the population.J Alzheimers Dis.2022 Jun 13. doi:10.3233/JAD-220159Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.Hubbard WB, Sim MMS, Saatman KE, Sullivan PG, Wood JP.Tissue factor release following traumatic brain injury drives thrombin generation.Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2022;6(4):e12734. doi:10.1002/rth2.12734
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Murai S, Hishikawa T, Takeda Y, et al.Depolarization time and extracellular glutamate levels aggravate ultraearly brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):10256. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14360-1National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common TBI symptoms?Mielke MM, Ransom JE, Mandrekar J, et al.Traumatic brain injury and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the population.J Alzheimers Dis.2022 Jun 13. doi:10.3233/JAD-220159Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.Hubbard WB, Sim MMS, Saatman KE, Sullivan PG, Wood JP.Tissue factor release following traumatic brain injury drives thrombin generation.Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2022;6(4):e12734. doi:10.1002/rth2.12734
Murai S, Hishikawa T, Takeda Y, et al.Depolarization time and extracellular glutamate levels aggravate ultraearly brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):10256. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14360-1
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common TBI symptoms?
Mielke MM, Ransom JE, Mandrekar J, et al.Traumatic brain injury and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the population.J Alzheimers Dis.2022 Jun 13. doi:10.3233/JAD-220159
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion.
Hubbard WB, Sim MMS, Saatman KE, Sullivan PG, Wood JP.Tissue factor release following traumatic brain injury drives thrombin generation.Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2022;6(4):e12734. doi:10.1002/rth2.12734
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