Head Injuries
Reviewed by board-certified emergency physicians. Walk in or call (713) 660-0001 anytime.
Go to the ER for a head injury near Houston or Bellaire if there was loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening confusion, a seizure, unequal pupils, or clear fluid draining from the nose or ears. These can signal a serious traumatic brain injury (TBI) or bleeding that needs an urgent CT scan. Bellaire ER has an on-site CT scanner and board-certified emergency physicians available 24/7 at 5302 Bellaire Blvd.
Symptoms
- Headache: Persistent or worsening head pain after a bump, fall, or blow to the head.
- Dizziness or balance problems: Feeling unsteady, lightheaded, or off-balance.
- Nausea or vomiting: One episode is common with concussion; repeated vomiting is a red flag.
- Confusion or memory gaps: Trouble concentrating, feeling foggy, or not remembering the injury.
- Blurred or double vision: Visual changes or sensitivity to light and noise.
- Drowsiness: Feeling unusually sleepy or being difficult to wake.
- Mood or behavior changes: Increased irritability, sadness, or unusual behavior, especially in children.
- Neck pain: Pain or stiffness that can accompany head and neck trauma.
When It's an Emergency
Visit the ER for head injuries if:
Your symptoms are severe, sudden, or getting worse. Don't wait — walk in to Bellaire ER or call (713) 660-0001.
Call 911 or come to the ER right away for any head injury with these red flags, which can signal a serious traumatic brain injury (TBI) or bleeding inside the skull: loss of consciousness (even briefly), repeated or forceful vomiting, worsening or severe headache, seizures, or a person who is hard to wake or increasingly confused.
Other danger signs include unequal or dilated pupils, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, and clear or bloody fluid draining from the nose or ears. In infants, watch for persistent crying, refusal to eat, or a bulging soft spot on the head.
Be especially cautious with high-risk injuries: falls from a height, car crashes, sports collisions, or any head injury in someone taking blood thinners or with a bleeding disorder. Do not "wait and see" with these — bleeding can worsen over minutes to hours.
Bellaire ER is open 24/7 with an on-site CT scanner, so you do not need to wait for a hospital appointment to find out whether a head injury is serious. If the scan shows bleeding, we stabilize you and arrange rapid transfer for hospital neurosurgical care.
When It's Not an Emergency
Many minor head bumps do not need emergency care. If an adult stayed fully awake and alert, had no loss of consciousness, and has only a mild headache, a small bump, or minor tenderness, it is often reasonable to watch closely at home for 24 to 48 hours.
Urgent care, telemedicine, or your primary care doctor can be appropriate for a mild, stable injury with no red flags, or to check a small scalp cut. A telemedicine visit is a convenient way to review your symptoms and decide whether you need to be seen in person.
Whoever is watching the injured person should look for warning signs that develop later — worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, or trouble waking. If any of these appear, treat it as an emergency and go to the ER. When in doubt, especially with children, older adults, or anyone on blood thinners, it is safer to be evaluated.
What Happens at Bellaire ER
At Bellaire ER, a board-certified emergency physician evaluates you quickly, reviews how the injury happened, and performs a focused neurological exam checking your alertness, memory, pupils, strength, and balance.
When the exam or your symptoms suggest a risk of bleeding or a serious traumatic brain injury, we perform a CT scan of the head on-site. This lets us see bleeding, swelling, or a skull fracture within minutes rather than sending you elsewhere.
We diagnose and treat in a single visit. Care may include cleaning and closing scalp lacerations, managing pain and nausea, and monitoring you until you are stable. Most patients are treated and discharged with clear instructions; if a rare finding requires a neurosurgeon or hospital admission, we coordinate a safe transfer.
Before you leave, your physician explains your results, reviews concussion recovery and return-to-activity guidance, and gives you specific warning signs that mean you should come back.
Prevention
Many head injuries are preventable. Always wear a properly fitted helmet for cycling, skating, contact sports, and riding motorcycles or ATVs, and buckle up every time you are in a vehicle.
Reduce fall risk at home by securing rugs, improving lighting, using stair railings, and installing grab bars for older adults, who are at higher risk of serious injury. Use age-appropriate car seats and supervise young children near stairs and playground equipment.
After a concussion, follow your physician's return-to-play and return-to-activity guidance. Suffering a second head injury before the first has healed can lead to more serious harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I go to the ER for a head injury?
Go to the ER for any head injury with loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, a seizure, worsening or severe headache, confusion, drowsiness, unequal pupils, weakness, slurred speech, or clear fluid draining from the nose or ears. Also seek emergency care after high-force injuries or if the injured person takes blood thinners. Call 911 if the person cannot be woken or is having a seizure.
How do I tell a concussion from a more serious brain injury?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that may cause headache, dizziness, brief confusion, and nausea, and symptoms usually stay stable or slowly improve. A more serious TBI or brain bleed is suggested by loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening confusion, a seizure, unequal pupils, or weakness. Because symptoms of bleeding can develop hours later, any red flag should be evaluated in the ER, often with a CT scan.
Do you have a CT scanner for head injuries?
Yes. Bellaire ER has an on-site CT scanner along with X-ray, ultrasound, and a full lab, staffed 24/7 by board-certified emergency physicians. A head CT is the fastest way to check for bleeding, swelling, or a skull fracture, and having it on-site means you get answers in a single visit instead of waiting for an outside appointment.
Can I use telemedicine for a minor head bump?
For a mild, stable head bump with no red flags — no loss of consciousness, no repeated vomiting, and normal alertness — telemedicine or urgent care can be a reasonable first step to review your symptoms and get monitoring instructions. However, if any warning signs appear or worsen, or the injury involved a strong impact, a young child, an older adult, or someone on blood thinners, you should be seen in the ER in person.
Sources & Further Reading
Medical information on this page is consistent with guidance from these trusted organizations:
People also ask
When should I go to the ER for head injuries?
Go to the ER for a head injury if there was any loss of consciousness, worsening or severe headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, seizure, unequal pupils, weakness, or if the injured person takes blood thinners or is very young or elderly. Minor bumps with no warning signs can usually be watched at home.
Read full answer →