Brain is the most important part of your human body. The skull keeps it protected most of the time from physical injuries and the blood brain barrier from the foreign particles. If you hit your head too hard on a solid surface, it might result in a traumatic injury to the brain or to the arteries or veins going through it. This trauma can cause either of the two conditions known as epidural or subdural hematoma. The epidural hematoma is the collection of blood due to the rupture of middle meningeal artery over the surface of meninges which is the covering over the brain right under the skull. The subdural hematoma is the collection of blood right under the meninges. In both situations the pressure is exerted by the pool of blood accumulating in the brain and pushes the brain on to a side. If this situation is not stopped immediately the person dies within 4-6 hours.

Given the time sensitivity of the situation, it is important that every head injury is treated seriously and a CT scan is performed to check for this condition.

If a hematoma is detected, the neurosurgeon will perform a surgery right away to release the pressure by extracting the blood out from the brain tissue. The bleeding vessel would also be treated at the same time to prevent further bleeding.

It is always a good idea to wear a helmet during dangerous sports to prevent this type of head trauma. It would definitely make a difference in case of an accident in deciding between your life and death.