A car crash is not something you ever thought you would need to deal with until you do. However, even when the damage to the vehicle seems minimal, you need to consider that your body may not have gotten away without suffering. One of the dangers after a lower-impact crash is an underlying brain injury.
The force of the impact may have caused damage you do not know about. If you are experiencing these symptoms in the days after a crash, you should seek help.
Is your sleep cycle off?
Since each part of the brain is responsible for different body systems, any damage may manifest in unusual ways. For instance, if you are experiencing a change in your sleep cycle, such as sleeping during the day and staying awake at night, this may point to something off in that area of the brain. If you are dealing with constant sleepiness or wake up without realizing you have fallen asleep, you need medical treatment.
Do you have sudden memory problems?
Difficulties with memory recall can feel frustrating for even a healthy person. When your brain receives some kind of a blow, even if it slides into the skull, that area of your brain responsible for forming and recalling new memories may suffer damage.
Have you experienced flu-like symptoms since the crash?
Have you felt under the weather in the hours or days after a crash? You may write these symptoms off as the flu, but they also indicate that your brain has problems. Common signs include:
- Constant lethargy
- Stomach upset, including vomiting
- Body aches
- Severe headache
If medication is not helping any of your symptoms, you should go to the doctor. In the wake of a crash, receiving a full medical workup is better than waiting until something catastrophic happens.