Ask a doctor on the topic of Surgery

Fear of brain hemorrhage

January 14, 2016 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Christian Welsch

Hello,
I am very worried and have a panic fear of a brain hemorrhage!
On Saturday, I had a rear-end collision. I was filling up with gas, and when I was backing out of the gas station, I didn't see that there was already a car there and I hit it head-on! My head jerked forward and backward, I wasn't held back by the headrest, and I didn't hit it! However, I am worried that in addition to whiplash, there could also be a brain hemorrhage! Since the accident, I have had slight dizziness, which has already improved, and since Tuesday, I have had a queasy feeling in my stomach/latent nausea, and my eyes somehow hurt! Can a hemorrhage occur from such an accident, and if so, not after 5 days? I just lost an acquaintance, who collapsed and died after jogging, the cause: a severe brain hemorrhage at just 31!
I am female, 29 years old, and have a hypochondriac tendency! Please help me quickly!

Christian Welsch

Dear questioner,

I consider your fear to be completely unfounded. Your acquaintance most likely had a so-called aneurysm, a vascular bulge as the cause of the bleeding. Such a thing is rare at that age but unfortunately not impossible.
With your symptoms, I would rather suspect a cervical whiplash or a mild concussion. If there were bleeding, you would rapidly and continuously deteriorate, leading you to end up in an emergency room on your own.
Please continue to undergo further examination, as this is also important for insurance purposes.

Wishing you a speedy recovery,
C. Welsch