If you’ve suffered a head injury, you may wonder, Can a head injury cause a stroke? While strokes and head injuries are distinct medical conditions, a head injury, particularly a traumatic brain injury, can increase the risk of stroke.
Research involving millions of participants suggests that people with a history of traumatic brain injury may face roughly double the risk of a later stroke compared to those without a brain injury. This increased risk applies to both ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blocked blood vessel, and hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding in the brain.
In fact, brain injuries can increase an individual’s risk of experiencing a stroke even if they don’t have other risk factors. If you experienced an injury due to the negligence of someone else, contact our brain injury & stroke lawyers today for a free case review, and consider speaking with experienced brain injury attorneys who can help you understand your legal options.
Unfortunately, stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States. Approximately 795,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke each year, and around 610,000 are first-time strokes. In this blog post, we’ll look closer at the relationship between head injuries and strokes and how different types of head injuries can impact your chances of experiencing one.
Is a Stroke a Brain Injury?
Before diving into the relationship between brain injuries and strokes, it’s essential to understand what they are and how they differ. A brain injury is any brain damage caused by trauma, oxygen deprivation, or other factors impairing normal function. It is divided into two categories: traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and acquired brain injuries (ABI).
In contrast, a stroke is a medical condition that occurs when the brain’s blood flow is interrupted or blocked, leading to damage or death of brain cells. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Blocked blood vessels cause ischemic strokes, while hemorrhagic strokes result from bleeding in the brain.
So, is a stroke a brain injury? Technically, no. A stroke isn’t caused by brain trauma and doesn’t result in the same type of brain tissue damage as a brain injury. However, depending on the severity of the stroke, it can cause similar symptoms and long-term effects, including cognitive and motor impairments. In this sense, a stroke may be considered a form of brain injury.
Can a Head Injury Cause a Stroke?
Can hitting your head cause a stroke? Yes, hitting your head can cause a stroke. While not every head injury will lead to a stroke, a head injury does increase the risk of blood clots, a leading cause of ischemic strokes. In fact, one study found that individuals who had experienced a TBI were 86% more likely to suffer a stroke within three months of the injury than those who had not had a TBI.
Research also shows that the level of risk can differ depending on the type of stroke. After a TBI, ischemic stroke risk may rise by about 30% to 56%, while hemorrhagic stroke risk may be several times higher than normal. This helps explain why doctors often watch closely for signs of both clotting and bleeding after a serious head injury.
Multiple factors may contribute to this increased risk, for example, inflammation, blood vessel damage, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, or alterations in blood flow.
In some cases, trauma can directly injure major blood vessels in the neck or brain, including a carotid artery dissection, which can lead to stroke. Brain injuries may also trigger tiny blood clots, sometimes called microthrombi, and may impair the brain’s ability to regulate its own blood flow. Together, these changes can make the brain more vulnerable to a later stroke.
Individuals who have experienced multiple head injuries over their lifetime may also be at a higher risk of stroke than those who have not had any brain injuries.
One possible reason for this increased risk is that repeated brain injuries can lead to cumulative damage to the blood vessels in the brain, which can increase the likelihood of a stroke.
Additionally, multiple brain injuries may cause changes in blood flow and vessel function in the brain. It’s important to note, however, that not everyone who experiences multiple brain injuries will go on to have a stroke. And many other factors, such as age, overall health, and lifestyle factors, can also influence an individual’s stroke risk.
Repeated head trauma appears to raise the danger even more. Some research suggests that one head injury may increase ischemic stroke risk by about 32%, while two or more head injuries may increase that risk by as much as 94%.
The most common questions we get are variants of “can a blow to the head cause a stroke?” and unfortunately the answer is yes.
When Is Stroke Risk Highest After a Head Injury?
The danger of stroke is usually highest soon after a traumatic brain injury, especially within the first month. However, the added risk does not always disappear quickly. Some studies suggest it can remain elevated for 10 years or longer, which means long-term follow-up may be important after a serious head injury.
Age also matters. Older adults already face a higher baseline risk of stroke, but traumatic brain injury can be especially important in younger and middle-aged adults under 50 because stroke is otherwise less common in that group. In other words, a head injury may be a more meaningful warning sign in a younger person than many people realize.
Stroke After a Fall
Can a Fall Cause a Stroke?
Yes, Falls that result in head trauma can indeed lead to a stroke. Specifically, such trauma can elevate the risk of a stroke by compromising the blood vessels and/or interfering with the blood clotting function in the brain.
Falls are a common cause of head injuries, particularly among older adults, and are responsible for a range of brain injuries, from mild concussions to severe TBIs. They can cause direct damage to the brain or lead to other complications, such as blood clots and internal bleeding, that may ultimately result in a stroke. Studies have found that individuals with a fall-related TBI have a higher risk of stroke in the years following the injury, even if they have no other risk factors. This increased risk may be due to changes in the blood vessels and blood flow in the brain following the fall, as well as other physiological changes that can occur after a brain injury.
A fall can be especially dangerous when it causes vessel injury, bleeding inside the skull, or a delayed clotting problem. Because stroke symptoms can overlap with symptoms of a head injury, any sudden facial drooping, arm weakness, severe confusion, trouble speaking, or vision changes after a fall should be treated as a medical emergency.
Stroke After a Concussion
A concussion, which is a form of mild head injury, is an independent risk factor for ischemic strokes. Patients who have experienced a concussion should consider prevention and monitoring strategies for stroke.
A concussion is a mild TBI caused by a blow or jolt to the head. While concussions are generally not life-threatening, they can have long-term effects on brain function and increase the risk of stroke, particularly if left untreated. Recent research has also shown that individuals who experience a concussion are at a higher risk of stroke within the first few months following the injury. The risk may remain elevated for several years after a concussion, underscoring the importance of continued monitoring and preventative care.
Even though moderate and severe TBIs usually carry the highest risk, mild injuries should not be ignored. A concussion can still increase stroke risk, especially in the early months after the injury, which is why follow-up care and attention to warning signs matter.
Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is a critical part of the brain injury and stroke recovery process. The primary goal of rehabilitation is to help individuals regain their independence and improve their overall quality of life, as well as help reduce the risk of experiencing another stroke in the future. Depending on the type and severity of the brain injury or stroke, rehabilitation may include a range of different therapies and interventions, for example, physical therapy to improve mobility and strength, occupational therapy to regain the ability to perform daily tasks, speech therapy to address communication and swallowing difficulties, and cognitive rehabilitation to improve memory, attention, and other cognitive functions.
In addition, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in regular physical activity may also help reduce the risk of stroke and improve general health. Overall, by working with healthcare professionals to develop a personalized rehabilitation plan and making lifestyle changes, individuals can reduce their risk of experiencing another stroke and improve their health and well-being.
For TBI survivors, stroke prevention should be an active part of recovery. In addition to therapy, doctors may recommend managing blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, weight, and physical inactivity because these traditional stroke risk factors can become even more important after a brain injury.
GJEL Accident Attorneys: Fresno’s Compassionate TBI Advocates
If someone else’s negligence caused your or a loved one’s brain injury, the skilled brain injury attorneys at GJEL can help you attain the compensation you need.
Our experienced legal advocates have a reputation for fighting tirelessly to protect clients’ rights and will treat you with the compassion and respect you deserve. In our over 40 years of practice, we’ve recovered nearly $1 billion for injury victims while maintaining a 99% success rate.
Want to focus on recovering? Let us deal with the parties that caused your injuries and losses. Call GJEL at 1-866-268-7118 for a free case review, and let us explain what we can do for you.
Our stroke injury lawyers are standing by ready to assist you during this difficult time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a fall cause a stroke?
A: Yes, a fall where your head was injured can cause a stroke.
Q: **Does a mild concussion increase stroke risk?**
A: Yes. Even a mild concussion can increase the risk of stroke, especially in the weeks and months after the injury.
Q: **How long does stroke risk stay higher after a traumatic brain injury?**
A: The risk is often highest within the first month after the injury, but some research suggests it may remain elevated for many years.
Q: **Are younger adults at risk of stroke after a head injury?**
A: Yes. Although stroke is more common in older adults overall, a traumatic brain injury can be a particularly important stroke risk factor in younger and middle-aged adults.
