Why You Shouldn't Ignore Head Injuries

Thanks to education efforts over the past couple of decades, Americans are becoming more aware of the seriousness of head injuries, whether it’s a mild concussion or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this blog post, we want to remind you why you shouldn’t ignore head injuries.

As our name suggests, Dr. Paul Gill and our team at Gill Neuroscience are experts in neurology, the medical field that specializes in the central and peripheral nervous systems, which are guided by the brain. 

So because your brain is command central for your entire body, anytime you hit your head and, quite literally, rattle your brain, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Here’s why.

No two head injuries are alike

Head injuries are anything but straightforward. They can affect people quite differently. Obviously, bumping your head on something hard leads to far less damage than having your head slam against the ground in a fall.

The force of the trauma plays no small role in your head injury, as your brain rocks back and forth inside your skull. This trauma can lead to:

• Damage in your brain cells
• Damage to blood vessels in your brain
• Chemical changes in your brain

In 2020, nearly 215,000 Americans were hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury, which means symptoms were strong enough not to be ignored. That said, about 75% of TBIs qualify as mild concussions, but this doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences.

Potential side effects of all brain injuries

Now let’s dive into the long list of potential side effects when you hit your head. Making matters more complex, symptoms of an invisible brain injury can develop immediately or days, weeks, or even months, later.

Some common side effects of TBIs include:

• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Cognitive issues, such as trouble with memory
• Blurry vision
• Anxiety and irritability

If you lost consciousness after your head injury, even if it was only for a few seconds, come to us for an evaluation. 

Other than loss of consciousness, if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms we outlined above, no matter how minor, we want to take a look. Head injuries are tricky, so get a professional evaluation, even if it's only for peace of mind.

More than one head injury

It’s also very important that you seek our help if this isn’t the first time you’ve had a head injury. Damage in your brain can be cumulative, and your brain may also be more sensitive to trauma after the initial TBI or concussion.

So even if you have only a mild concussion with no symptoms but have a history of concussion, please have us check you out.

If you’re wavering about whether to seek help for your head injury, we’d like to suggest that you err on the side of caution and come see us. To get that ball rolling, please call our office in Houston, Texas, at 832-912-7777, or use our online form to request an appointment.