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Knocked my head
Brain fog
Headache on the side of my head
Bug stings
Have nausea
Tripping over nothing
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What is Acute Subdural Hematoma?
Acute subdural hematoma is the buildup of blood between the brain and its outermost covering and can be a medical emergency. It is usually caused by a head injury. Older age, blood-thinning drugs, and alcohol abuse can increase the risk.
Typical Symptoms of Acute Subdural Hematoma
- Injury to the head
- Currently undergoing chemotherapy
- Fainting
- Pain in the temples
- Increased tendency to trip and fall
- Headache
- Seizure
- Difficulty thinking clearly
Diagnostic Questions for Acute Subdural Hematoma
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Did you injure your head?
- Are you currently on chemotherapy?
- Have you fainted recently?
- Do you have pain in your temples?
- Have you been tripping or falling more often?
Treatment of Acute Subdural Hematoma
Small or asymptomatic acute subdural hematomas may not need treatment beyond close monitoring. Blood thinners are stopped or their effect is counteracted with special medications. For severe cases, surgery is often required. Antiseizure medications are given if seizures are present.
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Fall from a height
- Blacking out
- High speed impact with head injury
- Tripped and fell and hit my head
- Trip and fall very often
- "Dent" in the head after it was hit
- Feel anxiety suddenly
- Head injury from a bicycle accident
- Sustained a head injury after falling off a motorcycle
- Head injury caused by falling off a motorcycle
- Felt nauseous then fainted
- Hit my head
- Fell from a height
- Traumatic head injury caused by a car accident
- Sweating followed by fainting
See full list
Symptoms Related to Acute Subdural Hematoma
Diseases Related to Acute Subdural Hematoma
FAQs
Q.
Hematoma Symptoms & Vital Next Steps: A Guide for Women 30-45
A.
Hematoma symptoms in women 30 to 45 include swelling, a firm tender lump, discoloration and warmth at the site, but red flags like a growing mass, worsening pain, faintness or dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or any severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, weakness on one side, vomiting, or seizures after a head injury need urgent care. Next steps depend on location and severity: minor surface hematomas often improve with rest, ice, compression, elevation, and non aspirin pain relief, while breast, abdominal or pelvic symptoms, any head injury signs, pregnancy or postpartum concerns, or blood thinner use should prompt timely medical evaluation or emergency care. There are several factors to consider; complete guidance with important details that could change your next steps is provided below.
References:
* Anjum F, Tahir M, Murad MH. Hematoma. *StatPearls Publishing*; 2024 Jan. [PMID: 32310398].
* Sharma D, Dahiya M, Sharma M. Management of Spontaneous Intramuscular Hematoma. *Ann Vasc Surg*. 2017 Jul;42:303-308. [PMID: 28412496].
* Sheth H, Desai S, Dhandharia B, Raval J, Vaghani P. Rectus sheath hematoma: a review of the literature. *Ultrasound Med Biol*. 2015 Jul;41(7):1786-90. [PMID: 26059292].
* Rodeghiero F. Hematoma formation and prevention in patients undergoing anticoagulation. *Cardiology*. 2008;111(4):255-60. [PMID: 18560237].
* Karamarković A, Nikolić D, Popović L, Lukić L, Stefanović P. Imaging of Intramuscular Hematoma: A Pictorial Review. *Curr Probl Diagn Radiol*. 2016 Jul-Aug;45(4):293-9. [PMID: 27156942].
Q.
Hematoma Signs in Women 65+: When to Worry & When It’s Serious
A.
Hematoma signs in women 65+ are often mild when the lump is small and not growing, pain improves, and discoloration fades over 1 to 3 weeks, but age related vessel fragility and blood thinners raise risks. Worry if it enlarges, becomes very firm or tense, causes numbness or weakness, or you take blood thinners, and seek emergency care after any head injury with severe headache, confusion, speech or vision changes, one sided weakness, repeated vomiting, loss of consciousness, or with severe abdominal pain or swelling. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete guidance on red flags, internal hematomas, medication issues, and when to call your doctor versus go to the emergency department.
References:
* Mori K, Maeda M. Subdural Hematoma in Elderly Patients: A Review. Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res. 2018 Dec 20;2018:3191392. doi: 10.1155/2018/3191392. PMID: 30677465; PMCID: PMC6317201.
* Han JH, Lee SJ, Kim HK. Spontaneous Subdural Hematoma in the Elderly: A Literature Review. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2014 Dec;56(6):448-52. doi: 10.3340/jkns.2014.56.6.448. Epub 2014 Dec 31. PMID: 25509749; PMCID: PMC4273827.
* Zang B, Grewal P, Tsivgoulis G, Alexandrov AV. Management of intracranial hemorrhage in older adults receiving oral anticoagulants. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2021 May 29;14:17562864211021487. doi: 10.1177/17562864211021487. PMID: 34165675; PMCID: PMC8167385.
* Yamamoto S, Hoshino M, Ogasawara K. Chronic subdural hematoma in the elderly: A current update. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2017 Nov 15;57(11):587-593. doi: 10.2176/nmc.ra.2017-0063. Epub 2017 Oct 27. PMID: 29161748; PMCID: PMC5713488.
* Stonecypher MR. Ecchymosis and purpura in older adults. J Gerontol Nurs. 2011 Oct;37(10):24-30; quiz 31-2. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20110901-01. PMID: 22022791.
Q.
Hematoma Risks After 65: When Bruising Becomes Dangerous
A.
There are several factors to consider. After 65, fragile blood vessels, less cushioning, more falls, and blood thinners raise the chance that a deep bruise is a hematoma, and even minor head trauma can lead to delayed subdural bleeding with subtle symptoms. Seek prompt care for any head injury, a rapidly enlarging or very painful bruise, tight warm skin, new confusion, weakness, speech trouble, dizziness or fainting, fever or spreading redness, or if you take anticoagulants; for prevention tips, evaluation and treatment options, and how to decide when to monitor versus call a doctor, see the complete answer below.
References:
* Almenawer SA, Al-Sherif S, Badhiwala JH, Farrokhyar F, Bhandari M, Winkler T, et al. The elderly patient with traumatic brain injury: a literature review. World Neurosurg. 2015 Mar;83(3):369-75. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2014.07.039. Epub 2014 Aug 29. PMID: 25171738.
* Zhang Y, Yu Y, Su Y, Liang J. Oral Anticoagulant-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage in the Elderly: A Review. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2020 Sep;29(9):105101. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105101. Epub 2020 Jul 11. PMID: 32661858.
* Santarius T, Hutchinson PJ. Chronic Subdural Hematoma in the Elderly: A Clinical and Pathophysiological Review. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2022 Apr;22(4):243-251. doi: 10.1007/s11910-022-01188-w. Epub 2022 Feb 11. PMID: 35153282.
* Chen Y, Wu Z, Wang X, Liu R, Yu Y. Risk of traumatic brain injury due to falls in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2021 May-Jun;94:104374. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104374. Epub 2021 Mar 10. PMID: 33718041.
* Susman M, Susman A, Sarrafzadeh A, Kofler M, Pusch A, Helbok R, et al. Age and outcome after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review. Age Ageing. 2017 Jul 1;46(4):534-541. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afw251. PMID: 28246473.
Q.
Skin Hematomas in Women: Causes, Healing, and Recovery
A.
A skin hematoma is a raised, firm bruise from blood pooling under the skin; in women it can be more common with hormonal changes, thinner skin with age, pregnancy, and certain medications, and it usually heals in 1 to 4 weeks with rest, cold then warm compresses, elevation, and good nutrition. There are several factors to consider, including warning signs that need medical care such as rapid growth, worsening pain, very tight or numb skin, signs of infection, bruising without injury, or any head injury, especially if you use blood thinners; see below for prevention tips, medication and supplement cautions, and timelines that can guide your next steps.
References:
* Stulberg DL, Mehlhorn AJ, Decherrie LV. Easy bruising in women: a common clinical problem. J Am Board Fam Med. 2012 Jan-Feb;25(1):108-14. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2012.01.108. PMID: 22197669.
* Prystowsky PD, Khansa I. Review of Postoperative Hematoma Formation in Plastic Surgery: An Updated Summary of Causes, Prevention, and Management. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2022 Sep 1;150(3):655-665. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000009400. PMID: 36074211.
* Parsi M. Easy Bruising in Women: A Practical Approach. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2019 Aug;45(5):486-491. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1692120. Epub 2019 Jul 22. PMID: 31336440.
* Loo C, Lin P, Ho G, Wong K, Chang C, Chen M, Ho C. Hematoma Resolution: The Influence of Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 28;24(5):4687. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054687. PMID: 36902263; PMCID: PMC10003058.
* Li T, Hu X, Hou H, Zheng M. Risk factors for hematoma formation following hyaluronic acid fillers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Jan 19;11:1301726. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1301726. PMID: 38318728; PMCID: PMC10839071.
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https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Vega RA, Valadka AB. Natural History of Acute Subdural Hematoma. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2017 Apr;28(2):247-255. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2016.11.007. Epub 2017 Jan 30. PMID: 28325459.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1042368016301048?via%3DihubKaribe H, Hayashi T, Hirano T, Kameyama M, Nakagawa A, Tominaga T. Surgical management of traumatic acute subdural hematoma in adults: a review. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2014;54(11):887-94. doi: 10.2176/nmc.cr.2014-0204. Epub 2014 Oct 31. PMID: 25367584; PMCID: PMC4533344.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/nmc/54/11/54_cr.2014-0204/_articlePhan K, Moore JM, Griessenauer C, Dmytriw AA, Scherman DB, Sheik-Ali S, Adeeb N, Ogilvy CS, Thomas A, Rosenfeld JV. Craniotomy Versus Decompressive Craniectomy for Acute Subdural Hematoma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World Neurosurg. 2017 May;101:677-685.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.03.024. Epub 2017 Mar 16. PMID: 28315797.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1878875017303364?via%3DihubSagher O. Acute subdural hematoma. J Neurosurg. 2011 Oct;115(4):842; discussion 842-3. doi: 10.3171/2011.5.JNS11753. Epub 2011 Jun 17. PMID: 21682564.
https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/115/4/article-p842.xml