There are multiple layers of tissue surrounding your brain and protecting it. One is known as the dura mater. This is between the brain and the skull.
In some cases, when someone suffers a head injury, bleeding can start to occur below the dura mater. This is known as a subdural hematoma. The blood begins to fill this space, but this puts excessive pressure on the brain because that space is confined within the skull. Over time, if the bleeding is not addressed, this can lead to very severe symptoms and may even be fatal.
How do you know if you have a subdural hematoma?
A subdural hematoma can be different from one case to the next. For instance, some are acute and you will have serious symptoms immediately, whereas others will develop slowly, perhaps over hours or even days. It’s important to know what symptoms to look for to know when to seek medical intervention, so some possible symptoms include:
- Dizziness and balance issues
- Vision problems
- Slurred speech
- The onset of a headache that will not stop
- Feeling sick, nauseous or even vomiting
- Suffering from memory loss
- Disorientation and confusion
- General personality changes
- Weakness that may only affect one side
- Loss of consciousness
- Trouble breathing
- The onset of seizures or even paralysis
Ideally, if you see minor symptoms, then it is important to get medical care so that you can avoid the major symptoms that may come later. If your injury was caused due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to seek financial compensation for these medical bills. Be sure you know what legal steps to take.