Depending on your profession, you may realize that you put yourself in harm’s way day after day.
For example, if you work in the construction industry, there’s always a chance you could suffer a head injury, such as the result of a trip and fall or an object falling from above.
A mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impact your life in many ways, both immediately following the accident and in the weeks and months that follow.
Here are some of the many physical symptoms associated with a mild TBI:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Vomiting and nausea
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Sleeping more than usual
- Speech concerns
- Loss of balance
- Dizziness
Also, it’s not out of the question to experience mental or cognitive symptoms, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiousness
- Mood changes or mood swings
- Concentration issues
- Memory difficulties
It’s also important to remember that the symptoms of a mild TBI do not always set in right away. It could take several hours to realize something is wrong, which is why you should seek medical treatment immediately following a hit to your head.
Even if you do your best to prevent an on-the-job mild TBI, you never know if something could go wrong. If this happens, call for immediate help and make sure your employer knows what went wrong.
After you receive treatment, your medical team will let you know which steps to take in the days, weeks and months to follow. If you’re unable to return to work, you should learn more about filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Source: Mayo Clinic, “Traumatic brain injury,” accessed May 30, 2018