Head Injury
DID YOU KNOW?
Head trauma can cause seizures and epilepsy. Sometimes several years can pass between the original head injury and the development of seizures and epilepsy. There is no agreement on how extensive or of what type that injury must be. The risk for epilepsy increases substantially from head trauma if there are open or penetrating wounds. However, trauma that leads to brief or no loss of consciousness does not predispose to epilepsy, nor does a minor head injury.
For information on head injuries that occur during a seizure, click here.
Common Causes:
- Falls
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Unintentional Contacts
- Assaults
- Sports
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Common Side Effects:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Behavioral/Emotional Changes
- Dizziness
- Blurred or Double vision
- Balance disturbance
- Sleep Disruption
- Light and noise sensitivity
- Hearing Loss
- Weakness/Ataxia
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Keys to Avoid Head Injury
- Always wear a seat belt in a moving vehicle
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Wear bright reflective clothing after dark
- Practice good bike safety:
- Wear a helmet
- Never use headphones
- Use correct hand signals
- Use bike lanes, if possible
- Ride with traffic, never against
- When playing sports wear protective gear:
- Helmets
- Mouth guards
- Padding
- Remove tripping hazards:
- No throw rugs or clutter in walkways or stairways
- Use nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors
- Install grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower
- Install handrails on both sides of stairways
- Improve lighting throughout the home
Related links:
Post-Traumatic Epilepsy
Head Injury during a Seizure
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Head Injury Podcast
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