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Traumatic brain injuries do not always look how they do in the movies – in fact a serious head injury could not even result in immediately loss of consciousness or any other alarming symptoms. In truth, a serious brain injury could have subtle symptoms and then suddenly result in much more serious consequences and even death.
A famous case of this is Natasha Richardson, a talented actress who fell and struck her head while skiing. Although she felt fine after the accident and was never unconscious, she suddenly fell ill in the hours after the head injury and was rushed to the hospital were she later died. Doctors later confirmed that she suffered from “Talk and Die” syndrome, in which a deadly head injury does not immediately reveal itself. While Richardson felt fine enough to refuse medical assistance after her accident, she later suffered a severe headache and then slipped into a coma. The cause was found to be delayed bleeding in the brain — an epidural hematoma.
In the wake of a head injury – even a head injury that seems minor – it is important to look for the symptoms of a more serious traumatic brain injury. Some of the symptoms include: fatigue, confusion, speech issues, dizziness, nausea, seizures, headaches, migraines, sleepiness, vision problems, trouble focusing, sensitivity to sound or light, insomnia, vomiting, and irritability.
If you believe you or someone close to you has suffered a serious head injury – it always pays to be on the safe side. Go to the hospital for a CT scan to check for internal bleeding or swelling and make sure that a treatable brain injury does not turn deadly.