This is especially true if you're taking a blood-thinning medication or an anti-platelet drug, such as aspirin. If you're an older adult, even mild head trauma can cause a hematoma.

A head injury may result from motor vehicle or bicycle accidents, falls, assaults, and sports injuries. Someone you tell might be more likely to recognize the warning signs and get you medical attention.Ī head injury is the most common cause of bleeding within the skull. Memory loss after a blow to your head can make you forget about the blow. For example, if someone seems fine after a head injury and can talk but later becomes unconscious, seek immediate medical care.Īnd even if you feel fine, ask someone to watch out for you. If you don't notice signs and symptoms right after you've been hit in the head, watch for physical, mental and emotional changes.

Experience vomiting, weakness, blurred vision, unsteadiness.

Seek immediate medical attention after a blow to the head if you:

Loss of movement (paralysis) on the opposite side of the body from the head injuryĪs more blood fills your brain or the narrow space between your brain and skull, other signs and symptoms may appear, such as:Īn intracranial hematoma can be life-threatening, requiring emergency treatment.

Drowsiness and progressive loss of consciousness.

Over time, pressure on your brain increases, producing some or all of the following signs and symptoms: This period is called the lucid interval. You might develop signs and symptoms of an intracranial hematoma right after a head injury, or they may take weeks or longer to appear.

Signs of serious head trauma