Car crashes around California continue to remain a regular occurrence. Even a minor collision may leave you feeling physical pain. One of the most devastating yet hard-to-diagnose injuries in a car accident is one to the brain.
You may believe that a serious head injury comes with a physical sign. A gash to the head or an obvious blow during a crash is not the only way your brain may become injured. Take a look at what may cause a brain injury and how you may spot one without obvious signs.
What causes a non-impact brain injury?
Doctors use the term traumatic brain injury or TBI to indicate that your brain has suffered damage. While some TBIs resolve with little or no intervention, others rise to life-altering. You may suffer a TBI if your body jolts back and forth or side to side in a car accident. The force imposed on the body may travel up into the head, and the brain may slide and hit against the skull meant to protect it. This movement against the bone may cause the brain to bruise and even bleed.
What are the symptoms of a brain injury?
Without an obvious sign that the brain has damage, you may not realize that it is sending you the signal that it needs help. If you walk away from a crash with little physical signs of injury, you must remain alert to the underlying symptoms of a possible head injury. These include:
- A persistent headache worsening over time
- Nausea, dizziness with or without vomiting
- Chronic fatigue or insomnia
- Memory recall problems
Paying attention to the signals your body sends may save your life. Should you have a sneaky brain injury, you may suffer a catastrophic event such as a stroke. You should undergo a medical exam to ensure your brain is injury free.
