"Concussion" is a condition in which the brain is lightly injured which can occur after a collision to the head or a whiplash injury (rapid shaking of the head and brain).
Concussions are not only life threatening, they can cause serious symptoms that require medical treatment. Anyone can experience it during a fall, car accident, or other daily activities.
Concussion symptoms
Symptoms of a concussion vary depending on the severity of the injury and who has it. The important thing to remember is that not all cases of altered consciousness after head trauma are caused by a concussion. Even some people who experience it can lose consciousness after the incident, there are also those who have symptoms several days or even months after the trauma.
Symptoms of a concussion may be experienced immediately, or may not appear for hours, days, weeks, or months after the injury. Various signs of concussion to watch out for are:
- Brief fainting after injury
- Impaired memory or memory
- Confusion, headache, dizziness or unsteadiness
- Extreme sleepiness for no apparent reason or feeling lethargic
- Double vision or blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Balance disorders
- Slow reaction to stimuli
During the recovery period after a concussion, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Irritability
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lightheadedness
Causes of concussion
Our brain is protected by a layer of gelatin. This layer protects the brain from shocks or impacts that may occur during daily activities. The shocks and impacts that cause concussions can occur as a result of:
- A hard blow to the head or neck that causes brain injury.
- Body movement that causes a sudden, violent shock to the brain, for example in a car accident.
Brain injury can also cause bleeding in the brain. If bleeding occurs, this can be fatal. For this reason, people who have a concussion will be monitored several hours after the injury occurs.
How to treat a concussion
Rest is the most effective way to recover from a brain injury. This is done for several days after the injury occurs. In this treatment, the doctor will limit activities that require brain performance to think and concentrate.
Headaches can occur days or weeks after a brain injury. To manage pain, ask your doctor if it's safe to take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Avoid other pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and aspirin, as these drugs can increase the risk of bleeding.
You are required to rest at home to recover from a brain injury. Avoid strenuous activity or exercise. Balance it with nutritious food consumption for overall body health.
Those are the things you need to know about concussion, its symptoms and how to handle it. If you are already in the recovery period but the symptoms return, immediately consult a doctor to get further treatment.
Article reviewed by dr. Zainy Hamzah, Sp.BS (Neurosurgery Specialist at EMC Pekayon Hospital).