A concussion occurs
when your brain bounces or twists inside your skull or experiences rapid, whiplash-type back and forth movement that causes it to collide with the inside of your skull
. This brain movement stretches and damages brain cells and leads to chemical changes in the brain.
What are 3 symptoms of a concussion?
- Headache or “pressure” in head.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Balance problems or dizziness, or double or blurry vision.
- Bothered by light or noise.
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
- Confusion, or concentration or memory problems.
- Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”.
What is the most common cause of concussions?
- The Top Four Causes of Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents. …
- Falls. …
- Motor vehicle accidents. …
- Struck by or against. …
- Assault/Abuse. …
- Learn More About TBI and Concussion in Children.
What are the 3 types of concussions?
- Grade 1: Mild, with symptoms that last less than 15 minutes and involve no loss of consciousness.
- Grade 2: Moderate, with symptoms that last longer than 15 minutes and involve no loss of consciousness.
- Grade 3: Severe, in which the person loses consciousness, sometimes for just a few seconds.
Do concussions go away?
Most symptoms of concussion go away within 7-10 days
. Most people recover from a concussion in about a month, but there are factors that can speed it up or slow it down. For instance, one way to improve concussion symptoms is chiropractic care.
Can I sleep with a concussion?
Medical experts once warned that people should stay awake if they had a concussion. They based this advice on the theory that sleeping with a concussion could cause a person to fall into a coma or even die. However, medical experts now agree that
it is safe for a person to sleep if they have a concussion
.
How can you test for a concussion at home?
- Changes in day-to-day functioning.
- Eye pain and/or eye fatigue.
- Headache.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Neck pain or stiffness.
- Imbalance, dropping things, bumping into things.
- Impaired depth perception (having difficulty seeing the distance between two items)
- Difficulty remembering things.
How long do concussions last?
Concussion recovery and treatment. Approximately 80 percent of concussions resolve over
seven to 14 days, with an average of 10 days
. People with concussions should never return to sports or other physical activity sooner than one week from sustaining the injury.
How do you treat a concussion at home?
- Rest is the best treatment for post-concussion syndrome.
- Do not drive if you have taken a prescription pain medicine.
- Rest in a quiet, dark room until your headache is gone. …
- Put a cold, moist cloth or cold pack on the painful area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
What are 5 causes of concussions?
Motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports injuries
are common causes of concussions. Any sport that involves contact can result in a concussion. Among children, most concussions happen on the playground, while bike riding, or when playing sports such as football, basketball, ice hockey, wrestling, or soccer.
Are concussions serious?
Concussions are usually not life threatening, but they can cause serious symptoms that require medical attention
. Treatment may include rest, taking a break from specific activities, and pain medication. Head injuries can affect anyone, whether caused by a fall at home or in a car accident.
Who is most at risk for concussions?
People younger than 24 and people older than 75
are at the greatest risk for concussion. In fact, children ages 0 to 14 account for nearly half a million emergency room visits for concussion. Gender. Female athletes report more concussions and more severe symptoms than their male counterparts playing the same sport.
Is a concussion an emergency?
Should I Go to the Hospital for a Concussion? In general, any head injury associated with loss of consciousness, seizures, prolonged confusion or amnesia, neck pain, vomiting or numbness or weakness in arms or legs should be transported to the emergency room in an ambulance right away.
What happens if a concussion goes untreated?
Concussion left untreated can lead to
long-term complications
. Potential complications of a concussion include chronic headaches, memory problems, vertigo, and post-concussion syndrome, which is headaches, dizziness, mood swings, and brain fog that can continue for months or years after a concussion.
Can your brain bleed from a concussion?
These injuries affect brain function, usually for a brief period, resulting in signs and symptoms of concussion. This type of brain injury
may lead to bleeding in or around your brain
, causing symptoms such as prolonged drowsiness and confusion.
What to avoid if you have a concussion?
- Excessive physical activity. An increased heart rate may worsen your symptoms, dragging out your recovery.
- Strenuous mental activities. Reading, computer work, playing video games, texting and watching TV can overstimulate your brain, says Dr. …
- Driving too soon. …
- Pain relievers.
Is 3 concussions too many?
Having one concussion is one too many, much less suffering three, four or more
. True, one concussion usually doesn’t lead to lifelong disability, but having multiple concussions may end one’s career (or life) prematurely.
What should you do if you have concussion?
- hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas in a tea towel) to the area regularly for short periods in the first few days to bring down any swelling.
- rest and avoid stress – you or your child do not need to stay awake if you’re tired.
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain or a headache.
What position should you sleep in with a concussion?
Make sure you are keeping yourself positioned
as close to neutral as possible
. This means keeping your head aligned with your spine, regardless if you’re lying on your side or on your back. If you’re lying on your side, you may need to use two pillows to keep your head elevated to the correct height.
When should you go to the doctor after hitting your head?
See a doctor
within one to two days of a significant head injury with ongoing symptoms
, even if emergency care isn’t required. Seek emergency medical attention if your child experiences: Unconsciousness, confusion or disorientation after a head injury.
When should you go to the hospital for a concussion?
Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching). Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation. Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out)
. Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.
How can concussions be prevented?
Everyone should
wear properly fitting, sport-appropriate headgear and safety equipment
when playing contact sports or biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, snowboarding, or skiing. You can’t prevent every concussion. But helmets, mouthguards, and other safety gear can reduce the risk of a brain injury.
What are the 4 categories of concussion symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of concussion reported within 1 to 7 days post injury (see Table 3-3) typically fall into four categories—
physical (somatic), cognitive, emotional (affective), and sleep
—and patients will experience one or more symptoms from one or more categories.
