You can incur a brain injury after a traumatic, sudden blow or jolt to the head. For example, you can suffer a brain injury after a car accident, while playing sports or following a serious fall.
The Brain Trauma Foundation states that every year, brain injuries affect approximately 2.5 million people. After involvement in an accident and sustaining a brain injury, you may experience a wide range of physical, sensory and cognitive symptoms.
1. Physical
Some of the physical symptoms of a brain injury can include loss of consciousness, a persistent headache and nausea and vomiting. Other physical symptoms can include fatigue or drowsiness, problems speaking, difficulty sleeping and loss of balance.
2. Sensory
After a serious accident, sensory problems you may experience can include ringing in the ears, a bad taste in your mouth or blurred vision. You may also experience sensitivity to sound or light.
3. Cognitive
A few of the cognitive issues you may experience after incurring a brain injury can include problems concentrating and remembering tasks. Additionally, you may undergo significant mood swings and feel more depressed and anxious than usual.
The symptoms of a brain injury may come on suddenly or take days, weeks or even months to appear. You may also experience different symptoms as time goes by, and while some may subside, others may start to get worse. You should see your doctor about the effects of a brain injury if you experience extreme headaches, have difficulty using your arms and legs or have worsening confusion.
