A brain injury is one of the most complicated injuries someone can suffer from. That type of injury can change a person’s personality or cause depression. Brain injuries have the potential to alter almost every part of a person’s life.
What kinds of symptoms can you expect if you have suffered a brain injury? Here are five common ways that brain injuries affect patients.
1. Memory loss
Every case is different, but it’s normal for those who suffer traumatic brain injuries to have some memory loss, at least in the short term. They may struggle to remember new things or be unable to recall old memories.
2. Headaches
When the brain suffers an injury, it swells. There may be pressure from bleeding on the brain, and trauma to the cells also impact the way the brain works. Headaches are a normal sign of concussions and other head injuries. Some may be severe, mimicking migraines. Headaches may worsen or be persistent after a head injury.
3. Behavior changes
Depending on the area of the brain that is damaged, it’s possible to see behavior changes in someone who has suffered a head injury. Behavior changes may include becoming aggressive, passive or even changing how the individual speaks or moves.
4. Physical weakness
Physical symptoms usually occur within a few hours or days following an injury. They may include a number of symptoms including losing feeling in the fingers and toes, numbness and weakness. It’s normal for someone with a brain injury to struggle with a loss of coordination or to have one or both pupils of the eyes dilated while the other remains the same.
5. Depression and anxiety
Finally, when people can’t do the things they love and their brains aren’t working the way they’re used to working, depression and anxiety are both likely. Over time, with recovery, this may resolve on its own. For some, medications or therapies help reduce depression and anxiety from an injury.
These are just some of the ways head trauma can affect you. If you’ve suffered an injury, it’s a good idea to seek help for as long as necessary.