The impact of some head and brain injuries cannot be understated. They can result in both short and long-term consequences which, in many cases, can be life-changing. As well as the symptoms suffered and treatment endured by the injured party, head and brain injuries can have a dramatic effect on the lives of their loved ones.
In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of head and brain injuries and the consequences that they can cause. We’ll describe some of the early warning signs of brain injuries and the long-term consequences that can result. Additionally, you’ll read about some of the measures that can be taken as a precaution to try and prevent serious head and brain injuries.
Common Types Of Head & Brain Injuries
Here are some of the most common head and brain injuries that can be sustained in traumatic accidents:
- Concussions – While fairly common, a concussion can be a very serious condition. They are mild brain injuries usually caused by a direct blow to the head that can cause dizziness, confusion and headaches.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) – This is a more serious brain injury that can cause long-term physical, cognitive and emotional. TBIs can be caused by jolts or violent blows to the head.
- Brain contusion – This is a bruise on the brain that, depending on severity, could lead to longer-term brain injuries and infections.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury – This type of brain injury can cause widespread brain damage (with long-term consequences). Usually, a diffuse axonal injury is caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration.
- Skull fractures. Open wounds caused by skull fractures can lead to an infection so they will usually be treated as quickly as possible. Surgery may be needed to treat a depressed skull fracture to prevent pressure from being placed on the brain.
Other brain and head injuries can of course be suffered following an accident and medical advice should always be sought following any type of blow to the head.
Common Causes Of Head & Brain Injuries
In this section, we have listed some common accidents and incidents that can result in head and brain injuries. They include:
Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs)
Even when wearing a seatbelt, drivers or passengers can hit their head on the vehicle’s steering wheel, dashboard or another seat. Unrestrained passengers are obviously at more risk of sustaining a head injury in an RTA.
Cyclists and motorcyclists have a higher risk of sustaining a head injury during an RTA due to the lack of protection offered by their vehicle in comparison to enclosed cars, vans and trucks.
Sporting Incidents
In many contact sports like rugby, football or boxing, there is a risk of a clash of heads or hitting your head as you fall to the ground. While concussions are commonplace in contact sports and measures have been implemented to try and reduce the risks, other more serious brain injuries can be sustained from long-term knocks to the head.
Falls
Construction or building site workers who work at great heights are at a high risk for brain injuries. However, brain injuries are not only caused by falls from great heights, they can also be caused by falls down stairs, slipping in the bath, falling out of bed or falling from a ladder. Younger children and older adults are most susceptible to brain injuries from falls.
Accidents At Work
Workers in many industries face the risk of being hit by falling objects in the workplace. For example, even if a construction worker is wearing a hard hat, they could sustain a serious brain injury if hit by rubble thrown off a scaffold.
Violence & Domestic Abuse
An alarmingly high number of brain injuries are a result of an act of violence inside or outside the home. Domestic violence against a child or spouse can result in brain injuries inside the home. Physical assaults are often the cause of brain injury outside the home.
This is just a sample of the different types of accidents that can lead to brain and head injuries.
Brain Injury Symptoms & Warning Signs
It is important to point out that if you have suffered a head injury and have any medical concerns whatsoever, you should always seek advice from a medical professional rather than relying on information found on the internet.
That said, we have listed a few of the potential issues that can arise from head and brain injuries following an accident:
- Physical symptoms. The physical effects of head injuries can vary from case to case but can include headaches, loss of consciousness, feeling faint, dizziness, seizures, vomiting and nausea.
- Emotional and cognitive symptoms. As well or instead of physical symptoms, head and brain injuries can lead to confusion, memory loss, concentration problems, personality changes and difficulties processing information.
NHS advice on head injuries and concussions is to get medical help if the injured person has hit their head and:
- Has not woken up after being knocked unconscious.
- Suffered a seizure or fit.
- Has hearing or vision problems.
- Has fallen down more than 5 stairs or from a height greater than 1 meter.
- Is having difficulty keeping their eyes open or staying awake.
- Shows signs of weakness or numbness in part of their body.
- Has clear fluid running from their nose or ears.
- Is having problems with balance, walking, writing, speaking or understanding.
Importantly, if you have suffered a head or brain injury yourself, the NHS advises that you do not drive yourself to A&E.
Long-Term Consequences Of Head & Brain Injuries
Unfortunately, some head and brain injuries can have a long-term impact on both the injured party and their loved ones. In many cases, serious brain injuries can mean that the injured party needs to rely on others far more than they used to. This might result in being cared for by family members or, in some cases, professional support at home or in a care setting.
Physically, those who have sustained a head or brain injury might have to deal with mobility or balance problems which means they may need to use specialist aids or devices to help maintain some level of independence. In some cases, home adaptations may be required to make moving around the home in a wheelchair easier. Some head and brain injuries can result in chronic pain too which might mean physiotherapy, pain relief and other treatments are required.
Additionally, it is quite common for head injuries to cause cognitive impairments. For example, they could result in memory loss, concentration and reduced decision-making abilities.
Finally, going from being a healthy person to somebody who cannot function as well as they used to can sometimes result in mental health issues. In some cases, this may manifest as depression, anxiety and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following more serious accidents.
Treatment & Rehabilitation
In many cases, fast treatment of a head or brain injury can improve the injured party’s prognosis and give them the best chance of making a complete recovery. For that reason and as mentioned earlier, it is always best to seek professional medical advice as soon as possible if a head injury is suspected following an accident.
Sometimes, retraining the body and brain may be needed to help rehabilitate the injured person. This could be in the form of physical therapy, counselling including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and occupational therapy.
There are also options available to help those affected by head and brain injuries develop long-term recovery strategies. This could be in the form of treatment and counselling offered by the NHS or support groups and charities whose members have lived experience of coping with the impacts of brain trauma.
Preventing Head & Brain Injuries
While it is probably impossible to prevent all accidents that cause head and brain injuries, there are some steps that, if taken, could help:
- Using seat belts in cars and wearing a helmet whilst riding a bike offer at least some protection in the event of a road traffic accident. Similarly, installing safety devices like supports and handrails in the homes of vulnerable or elderly relatives can help to prevent them from having a fall.
- At work, personal protective equipment like hard hats should always be provided by employers (for free) where safety risks cannot be mitigated in any other way. Similarly, workplaces should be as organised as possible and free from hazards to prevent slips, trips and falls that result in head and brain injuries.
- While nobody wants to stop children from having fun, it is a good idea to educate them on playground safety and safe techniques when playing contact sports to give them some idea of how to protect themselves from injury.
Hopefully, some of these measures can go some way to preventing falls, road traffic accidents and other incidents which could result in significant brain injuries.
Conclusion
As we’ve shown, head and brain injuries can occur in almost any type of accident and lead to serious and long-term suffering.
While accidents will always happen, by taking some of the precautions outlined in this guide and knowing what to do in the event of an emergency, there is a chance you’ll stay safe and, hopefully, any head injury that is sustained won’t lead to serious complications.