Do you have a headache after a ski fall?

Is your headache post-ski fall something to worry about? What should you do about it?

Many of us love skiing, but it's an inherently dangerous sport that can cause many different injuries. In fact, amongst people who ski regularly, there are very few who haven't been in a few accidents. And when you fall on skis, it can be very easy to hit your head.

What should you do if you've got a headache after a ski fall? First thing's first, check the area to make sure you're not cut or otherwise damaged. If you haven't already done so, get yourself safe and sound at the bottom of the ski hill. If possible, ask to take the chairlift back down instead of skiing down yourself.

If you've fallen while on skis, it's not necessarily unusual to experience a headache. But if your headache doesn't resolve soon after the injury, you might have a serious problem. If you find your headache getting better over time, it's unlikely to represent a serious injury.

Headaches generally come in three categories: mild, moderate and severe. Mild headaches should improve relatively quickly over time and the pain can be alleviated with over-the-counter medicine and rest. Moderate headaches will improve with treatment and rest as well, but you can always feel them regardless of having taken proper medicine and rest. Severe headaches are completely incapacitating. You won't be able to relieve them with simple remedies.

If your headache keeps getting worse after a ski fall, it's possible that your head injury may have caused swelling or bleeding in or around the brain. Similarly, there may be a small amount of bleeding that does not cause symptoms right after the injury. If you are experiencing a severe headache or believe yourself to be exhibiting signs of internal bleeding, don't hesitate to immediately stop reading this article and go to the hospital.

To many of us it might seem obvious, but there are still those who don't wear helmets on the ski hill. Even if you're on a relatively small hill and you stay on the bunny slopes, you should always wear a helmet when skiing. There's no telling when a small incident can send you flying into a tree or a hidden rock. And no matter how high your level of skill, you can't control other peoples' actions, so it's possible that someone else loses control and comes flying out of nowhere and causes you to get into an accident that could potentially cause trauma to your head.