A car accident tends to change the course of your day. It may cause you to miss hours from work or not get home until later in the day.
In some cases, however, a crash may cause more than an inconvenience for a day. You may find yourself facing medical issues that you never saw coming. Discover some of the silent ways your brain may tell you there is something wrong.
Head pain
The skull is thick to protect the sensitive tissue inside, but there is space between the brain and the bone. The force of the head moving in a crash may cause the brain to hit the skull, leaving no outward sign of trauma. However, the tissue may start to swell and even bleed. One of the first signs of a traumatic brain injury is an increasingly painful headache. While some form of head pain is normal after a crash, one that gets worse or makes you feel nauseous, lethargic, or dizzy signals something more serious.
Cognitive impairment
Since the brain runs the body, an injury may manifest in non-physical ways. The cognitive part of the brain may start to act up. It may mean that you suddenly cannot come up with the right words or your memory becomes hazy. The brain’s emotional function is sensitive,, and any kind of bruising or swelling in that particular area may cause several non-physical reactions. Any changes in your memory, emotions or senses may signal brain trauma.
If you do not get checked by a doctor after a car accident, you may wind up suffering severe damage. Should you have a traumatic brain injury, time is crucial for treatment.