The Facts About the Long-Term Effects of a Head Injury

There is no such thing as a head injury that isn’t serious. These injuries can have lots of different lifelong effects on folks, and when you have a head injury, the most important thing is getting treatment. When there is a head injury, get to an ER right away. Don’t know where one is? Google “ER near me” or “24-hour emergency room near me,” and you will most likely find the New Braunfels Emergency Room. The ER New Braunfels provides great emergency care and helps treat head injuries right away.

Nature of Head Injuries

Every head injury is unique and requires treatment as such. Getting care immediately for a head injury will greatly improve the chances of recovery from more serious long-lasting effects. With 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries every year in the United States, it is clear that this is something that all medical professionals know how to deal with. Making sure that you have the best care is critical to the long-term prognosis after suffering a head injury.

Here are some effects of head injuries:

  • Memory Loss
  • Coma
  • Lack of sensation in the extremities
  • Balance loss
  • Different types of cognitive impairments
  • The onset of degenerative neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson’s, Dementia)
  • Greater risk of seizures

These are very serious effects, and depending on the severity of the head injury and quality of care, these effects can be more acute over time.

Types of Head Injuries

There are three different types of head injuries that all have different effects on someone after an injury. Here are the injuries:

  • Closed Head Injuries – These are the most common injuries characterized by the head moving side to side and causing the brain to whack against the sides of the skull. There are no superficial wounds in these injuries
  • Open Wound Injuries – These injuries are where something may have penetrated the skull and exposed the brain to external conditions. Despite the gruesome nature, they sometimes are not as bad as they look
  • Crushing Injuries – This is when the skull wedges between two objects and results in very serious trauma to parts of the brain, including the brain stem.

Conclusion

Head injuries are extremely serious, and the failure to quickly treat them can result in serious, life-long problems. If you think you’ve suffered a head injury, visit an ER right away.