Medical Effects of a Lightning Strike

Once someone has been struck by lightning and survives, there are quite a few symptoms that are instantaneous while others may appear later down the road.
 

Lightning will travel through your nervous system and likely result in brain and nerve injuries for those who are struck. Even though survival is possible, it is never guaranteed following a lightning strike since it can result in a heart attack. The following are a few primary effects expected as a result of this scary encounter:

 

Sadly, some effects will be possible long after the encounter with lightning. This includes chronic pain/headaches, depression, loss of focus, short-term/long-term memory loss or even the need to self-isolate. It will be very important for family and friends to be understanding while the victim of the lightning strike recovers as they may be very irritable due to the situation. 

One of the ways that can be helpful is to assist that person with their hospital visits. There are two types of tests that will be done following a lightning strike: anatomic and functional tests. An anatomical test includes the use of an imaging machine (X-Ray, MRI and/or CT). This test can be less effective for lightning victims since the injury is more focused on how the brain and body are operating rather than what they look like. 

As for the functional tests, this will gauge the impacts to the brain and body as a whole. These kinds of tests are known to be expensive due to the intensive therapy aspect, but they can be useful to document any learning or functional disabilities following the accident. 

Remember, the recovery rate of a lightning survivor hinges on how much support the victim has available to them. In fact, there are four major steps to recovery and at the top of the list is having a strong supportive family/friend network. The next step is becoming knowledgeable on this topic or informing the family/friends of the victim. Next, find a physician who is patient, understanding, knowledgeable and willing to walk alongside the victim and family members. 

Lastly, be light-hearted and try to find something to laugh about to distract the victim from their injury. Laughter can truly be the best medicine.

Source: National Weather Service

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