It happens to everyone sometimes: bumping the head. This can be quite painful. Sometimes there is bleeding after impact, sometimes there is nausea or headache. When is the best time to consult a doctor?

Bumping the head

Hitting the head often happens like this: while coming up against the edge of a table or against a shelf, or against someone else’s head. But also by walking into a wall or an open door. Hitting the head is often less forceful than falling on the head: the damage sometimes incurred is much greater. However, hitting the head can also be very painful and very painful.

Headache after hitting the head

A bump to the head hurts. Sometimes a lot of pain. Initially, people will grab the affected area and usually walk around in a crouched position. Some people become irritated by the pain: they don’t want other people around them for a while. Children often cry loudly and are difficult to talk to.After a few minutes the worst pain subsides. What remains is a throbbing pain, which usually goes away after an hour. Still, a headache may remain. The headache occurs in the first hours after the accident and can last for several days or sometimes several weeks. A bump can often be felt on the scalp. There may also be a cut or abrasion.

Bleeding

Sharp or pointed objects in particular can cause a cut in the scalp. Blood will then be visible between the hairs. It is often difficult to assess the extent of damage through the hair. It is therefore advisable to have a doctor take a look at it in case of blood loss. This will stitch the wound if this is deemed necessary.A minor injury can be properly disinfected and kept clean yourself. As long as there are no headaches, it is not necessary to see a doctor.

Nauseous

Nausea may occur after a hard blow to the head. Nausea can be caused by the shock one has after a bump in the head, the nausea will usually disappear within half an hour to a full hour. If the nausea persists and is accompanied by a headache or a general strange feeling, you may have a mild concussion.

Concussion after a blow to the head

A concussion is caused by rotational forces in the brain during a blow to the head. The brain is, as it were, shaken up. In most cases it will be a mild concussion. One will feel nauseous, dizzy and have a headache. With rest, these complaints will disappear within a few weeks.A severe concussion often also causes concentration problems , problems with balance, problems with language and vision problems. Often people cannot tolerate light or sound. A severe concussion requires much more rest and recovery also takes much longer. Sometimes complete recovery is no longer possible. If you suspect a concussion, it is always advisable to visit a doctor. This will usually also provide wake-up advice for the first 24 hours.

Unconscious

Sometimes people lose consciousness for a moment after a serious blow to the head. It is important that you always see a doctor when this occurs. Internal bleeding may occur, which can cause loss of consciousness again after a few hours. In severe cases, a bruise causes bleeding in the cerebrospinal fluid, which can be fatal. This bleeding can occur a few days to a few weeks after the blow to the head.

When to see a doctor?

After bumping the head, one does not always need to see a doctor. Little blood loss, mild headache or temporary nausea is nothing to worry about. Visit a doctor if there is a persistent headache, heavy bleeding, nausea and vomiting that lasts more than one hour, loss of consciousness or if there is a nosebleed after a blow to the head.