Minor head injury: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is a minor head injury?

Minor head injury or minor head trauma is a condition of head injury that occurs as a result of a collision, accident, or being hit with a hard object. This type of head injury can cause head trauma and loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes.

In this case, the brain is protected by the skull, so the effects of the impact do not last long. An estimated 75-80% of head injury cases fall into the minor injury category.

A mild type of head injury has the potential to temporarily disrupt brain cell function. This condition causes the sufferer to lose consciousness for a while.

However, if left untreated, this condition will lead to complications, namely damage, tearing, or bruising of brain cell tissue.

How common are minor head injuries?

Mild head injury is a very common condition and can happen to anyone. However, injury cases are usually more common in young children and elderly people. This is because young children and the elderly are more prone to falling.

In addition, adolescents and athletes who frequently participate in physical activities such as sports competitions have a higher risk of experiencing minor head injuries.

Minor head injuries can be treated by reducing the existing risk factors. You can discuss with your doctor to find out more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the symptoms of a minor head injury?

Minor head injuries can be difficult to detect. Although you may be able to see cuts or bruises on your head, you may not experience symptoms a few days or even weeks after the accident.

There are several symptoms that affect mentally, physically, and emotionally in a person with a minor head injury. The most common symptoms are headaches, temporary memory problems, and confusion.

Here are some signs you may be feeling:

1. Physical symptoms

The physical symptoms that you may feel are:

• You may pass out for a few seconds to several minutes
• Sometimes you don't lose consciousness, but you may feel dazed, confused, or disoriented
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tired or sleepy
• Hard to sleep
• Get more sleep
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Convulsions.

2. Sense symptoms

Following are the signs on your five senses after a minor head injury:

• Sensory disturbances, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth or changes in the ability to smell
• Sensitivity to light or sound.

Minor head injuries can also occur in children and babies. However, injuries are difficult to detect because children and babies cannot properly describe how they feel.

Some of the signs you should look out for when children and babies have minor head injuries are:

• Confusion
• Easy fatigue
• Irritable and sensitive
• Losing balance
• Not able to walk normally
• Crying continuously
• Changes in diet and sleep
• Not interested in his favorite toy

You may sometimes have cognitive or psychiatric problems after a minor head injury, such as lack of concentration, mood swings, and feeling depressed or anxious.

Some of the other symptoms or signs may not be listed above. If you feel anxious about these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

When to go to the doctor

You should call your doctor if you have additional symptoms such as:

• Continuous vomiting
• Loss of consciousness for too long
• The headache got worse
• There are changes in behavior, for example, more irritability
• The body loses balance
• Confusion and disorientation
• Difficulty recognizing people or places
• Messy way of speaking

Minor head injuries can still cause serious complications. If your child has a head injury and has noticeable changes, for example, continues to cry, is unable to pay attention or feels sad and depressed, you may want to get your child checked by a doctor.

Cause

What causes minor head injuries?

Your brain has a gelatin-like consistency or texture. The brain is protected from shocks and daily bodily movements thanks to the presence of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull.

If you have a minor head injury, you hit your head very hard and it can cause the brain to move inside your skull.

There are many causes of minor head injuries. Some of the most common causes of hard impact to the head are:

• Falling object
• Road accident
• Sports accidents
• The thing that hit the head

The accident can affect brain function, which is usually only temporary. Depending on the strength of the impact, you could have a minor head injury or a more severe type of head injury.

Any symptoms from most minor head injuries usually improve within a month or less. Minor head injuries usually do not cause complications, but in some cases complications may result from impaired brain function.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of minor head injuries?

Minor head injuries can indeed occur to anyone and everyone of all ages. However, there are several factors that can increase your risk of minor head injuries.

Activities and risk factors that can lead to minor head injuries are:

• Infants and children aged 0-4 years
• Adolescents and young adults, aged 15 to 25
• Adults and seniors aged 75 and over
• Never fell
• Participating in high-risk sports such as football, hockey , boxing, martial arts, and more
• Exercise without adequate equipment and supervision
• Have had a motor vehicle accident
• Been hit by a bicycle or motor vehicle
• Soldiers who fought
• Have been a victim of physical violence
• Have had a previous head injury

When your job requires labor or you exercise vigorously, your risk of head injury is higher.

Some of the risk factors that exist may not be avoided, but you can still prevent minor head injuries with risk factors that can still be avoided. Always consult a doctor for more information.

Complications

What are the complications resulting from a minor head injury?

Minor head injuries that are not treated as early as possible have the potential to cause various complications, such as: Post-traumatic headaches

Post-traumatic headaches can be experienced by people with minor head injuries weeks or months after the accident.

1. Post-traumatic vertigo

In addition, people who have an accident are also at risk of suffering from post-traumatic vertigo with symptoms of spinning head and very dizziness.

2. Post-head injury syndrome

Some people have symptoms of dizziness, difficulty thinking, and headaches that are too severe months after the accident.

3. The cumulative or accumulating effect of previous accidents

It is very likely that a person who has suffered several head injuries will suffer long-term brain damage.

Medicines & Medicines

The information described is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How do doctors diagnose minor head injuries?

Your doctor can diagnose a head injury by asking about your physical condition. However, it can be difficult to separate the symptoms of a minor head injury from the symptoms from the injury. For example, someone might get into a car accident and complain about a headache a few months later.

Here are some things that doctors consider when diagnosing minor head injuries:

• Balance
• Concentration
• Coordination
• Hearing
• Memory
• Movement reflex
• Vision

A reliable head injury test is the Glasgow coma scale test, where you will be assessed on your eye, verbal and motor responses. The lower the score, the more serious the head injury. Imaging tests (X-rays, MRI) are useful to see if there is damage to the skull or brain.

How to treat minor head injuries

Minor head injuries usually don't require treatment as they get better quickly. If there are symptoms such as headaches or dizziness, they can be treated with over-the-counter medications.

Here are some treatments and treatments that doctors recommend:

1. Get complete rest

In order for the head to quickly recover from injury, doctors strongly recommend that you take full rest. The body will quickly make repairs to the brain cells that are affected if you get enough sleep every night. Make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep a day.

2. Take drugs

The doctor will also prescribe medicines that can reduce pain in the head, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). You should avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

3. Stop exercising for a while

Since you are required to rest as much as possible, your activities may be limited, including exercising. Wait until your body and head have completely healed, and the doctor has confirmed that the injury is not causing serious problems in your body.

Your doctor may ask you to closely monitor your head injury if new symptoms develop or they get worse. During this period, it is best to avoid physical activity or thinking and get plenty of rest.

The doctor will also examine you after some time to see if you are fit to return to work or school.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can treat minor head injuries?

The following lifestyle and home remedies may help with minor head injuries:

1. Helmets and other protective equipment

If you are traveling by motorbike or doing extreme sports, always make sure you have protective equipment, especially a helmet.

2. Wear a seat belt

Wearing a seat belt while driving can reduce the risk of minor and severe head injuries during motor vehicle accidents.

3. Driving in a conscious state

Make sure you don't endanger yourself and others by driving safely. Avoid consuming alcohol or drugs that make you sleepy.

4. Diet and exercise

Improving diet and exercise can help maintain bone mass and density. Stronger bones are less likely to be damaged when an injury occurs.

Other tips and precautions you can try are:

• Make sure you stay within reach of telephone and medical assistance in the next several days
• Get plenty of rest and avoid stressful situations
• Show a fact sheet to a friend or family member who can keep an eye on your condition
• Take painkillers such as paracetamol for headaches
• Do not stay indoors alone for 48 hours after leaving the hospital
• Do not take aspirin or sleeping pills without consulting your doctor
• Don't go back to work until you feel ready
• Do not exercise strenuous or extreme for at least three weeks without consulting a doctor
• Do not return to driving until you feel you have recovered. If you are still in doubt, consult your doctor.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor to better understand the best solution for you.

Hello Health Group does not provide health advice, diagnosis or treatment.