After an accident in a car or other vehicle, you may not think much about not receiving medical help if you do not sense any physical problems right away. In the time after a crash, however, you could start to notice a headache forming. This headache may actually be a traumatic brain injury.
While some traumatic brain injuries manifest in obvious ways, others only show subtle signs that might not be immediately noticeable. Pay attention to what you feel and take note of the variety of signs you experience.
Inconvenient sleep patterns
A sudden shift in sleep patterns can be an important clue to solving this issue. You might find it challenging to fall asleep or stay asleep, or you might sleep excessively. This includes feeling drowsy while driving, which is a problem that resulted in 633 deaths in 2020. These changes in your sleep habits could result from disruptions in brain function caused by a TBI.
Serious mood swings
Unexplained mood swings, increased irritability or emotional instability might happen because of a TBI. Individuals may find it difficult to manage their emotions or feel more anxious or depressed than usual.
Trouble with your senses
TBIs can lead to sensory changes such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a heightened sensitivity to light and sound. You may not immediately realize these disturbances are part of a TBI if you are not aware of the common symptoms of this problem.
Lack of energy
Feeling consistently tired or lacking energy despite getting adequate rest is part of having a TBI. Brain injuries can disrupt the body’s energy regulation systems.
Clumsiness
If someone starts experiencing problems with balance and coordination, it could be a sign of a brain injury. These issues might not be immediately obvious at first but become clear with careful observation.
It is important to pay attention to changes in physical, emotional and cognitive well-being following any head injury or accident. Early recognition of these signs makes a huge difference in managing and treating traumatic brain injuries.
