A traumatic brain injury often follows as a result of a blow to the head. These injuries can range from mild to extremely severe. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in particular often have long-term impacts that can seriously alter your life.
The best way of minimizing this damage is through appropriate medical treatment. Thus, you want to know what the signs of a TBI are so you can seek help right away.
Visible effects
As Mayo Clinic discusses, TBIs manifest in several different ways. First, TBIs will result in physical effects that you can see. The victim may pass out, black out or experience other disorders of the consciousness. This can include falling into a coma.
Next, they may react strongly to bright lights. It could exacerbate pain from any migraine or headache occurring. You may also notice that their pupils dilate unevenly.
Their balance may also suffer, preventing them from walking in a straight line or even standing upright without leaning or falling. Victims might experience nausea that can lead to sudden vomiting, too.
Notable behavioral changes
Pay attention to their behavior as well. Many TBI victims fall into temporary states of confusion and panic. Some struggle with memory loss, which exacerbates these negative feelings even further. A victim might lash out at others or act in a stubborn, aggressive way. Many TBI victims even refuse to seek medical attention for this reason, while others struggle with full on emotional breakdowns.
If you see any of these signs, you want to seek immediate medical help. Granted, any head injury should warrant a trip to the doctor, just so they can ensure no permanent damage or serious issues have happened.