Head Bangers Beware: Brain Bleeding is a Potential Danger
Fans of heavy metal may want to be careful before they start going crazy at their next concert. According to a study published in The Lancet, a medical journal, a 50 year-old man went to Hannover Medical School, looking for help after suffering from an incessant and worsening headache he’s been dealing with for four weeks after attending a Motӧrhead concert.
A brain scan revealed a blood clot had formed on the right side of his brain. Surgeons successfully operated and removed the clot. However, the German doctors said that it was a very weird injury. The 50-year-old had no history of head injuries and, according to his statements, did not abuse drugs or alcohol. What he did say was that he was head-banging pretty hard at the heavy metal rock concert, several weeks earlier.
This is believed to be the fourth case of a person sustaining a brain injury due to head-banging. In this case, it was revealed that the man had a preexisting cyst near the clot, which may have made him more susceptible to the personal injury.
“We assume that head-banging, with its brisk forward and back acceleration and deceleration forces, led to rupturing of bridging veins causing hemorrhage into the subdural space,” the German doctors said in the article.
Head-banging is violent whipping of a person’s head and neck to the melodies of hard rock and heavy metal tunes. The practice became popular in the 1970s, with the rise of speed metal bands, featuring hundreds of beats per minute. Other personal injuries linked to head-banging include whiplash, and other spine and neck injuries.
Largely, the practice is considered harmless. However, what this story does highlight is the importance of monitoring your symptoms. Traumatic brain injuries are known as the silent killer for a reason. Often, the symptoms go unnoticed for days, weeks or even months. This man should be thankful that he decided to take action when he noticed he had a headache that wouldn’t stop.
The attorneys at The Wilton Law Firm have more than 20 years of experience and have won millions of dollars fighting for NJ personal injury victims. If you have been injured, contact us today for a free consultation. Call 732-333-3168.
