Car accidents are common across the globe, with more than 1.3 million people dying from vehicular accidents every year. Among young adults, car accidents are the leading cause of death, and it is considered the ninth leading cause of death for all ages.
Car accidents can take a toll on one’s body. For those with mild injuries, they may feel mild symptoms. For example, while wounds, fractures, and sprains can present with symptoms, some may appear long after you had an accident in Salt Lake City, such as whiplash. Here are the signs you shouldn’t ignore after a car accident.
Headache
In accidents, people often experience concussions. Some people who had an accident may suffer a traumatic brain injury after hitting their heads violently. The symptoms of this injury may appear hours or days after the accident. One of the most common is headache, followed by dizziness.
Hitting the head during an accident may lead to swelling and bleeding in the brain, which can be life-threatening if they are not treated immediately. For those who were in a severe accident and developed a headache, they should get checked since it may be an immediate medical emergency.
Neck Pain
Neck pain often signals a whiplash injury, which is a series of neck injuries after a sudden back and forth movement of the head. A car accident usually leads to a whiplash injury, which may manifest by problems with movement of the neck, headaches, neck stiffness, neck pain, and tenderness in the nape area.
Abdominal Pain and Swelling
After a car accident, you should note for abdominal pain and swelling because these are indicative of internal bleeding. Internal bleeding has a delay in symptom onset, and it may take time before the condition progresses. When there is internal bleeding, it can lead to a multitude of complications such as hypovolemic shock and even death. The other symptoms of this condition include vomiting of blood, dark tarry stool, blood stool, dizziness, and fainting.
Weakness, Numbness, and Tingling Sensation
After an accident, it is vital to take note of any weakness, numbness, or tingling sensation in any part of the body. These symptoms may signal the presence of a spinal cord injury. Without proper and immediate treatment, spinal cord injury may lead to severe long-term damage, and in some patients, even being in a coma.
Patients should also report any loss or change in sensation that could hint a spinal cord injury. Swelling in the spinal cord may lead to these symptoms, and if it is not treated appropriately, it can worsen the condition.
Vision Changes
Any change in vision or having a sudden blurry vision can indicate the presence of a brain injury caused by a vehicular accident. Over time, this injury can worsen. It is essential to seek medical attention immediately to prevent permanent vision loss or blindness.
A car accident can have many side effects, and some may not manifest immediately. After an accident, it is vital to have a general check-up and observe for unusual symptoms.
