Concussion: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments ...

The most common and least serious type of traumatic brain injury is called a concussion. The word comes from the Latin concutere, ... MenuNews&FeaturesReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersFindaNeurologistWhatIsaConcussion?WhatIsPost-ConcussionSyndrome?BrainInjuriesSlideshowLivingBetterWithMSADHDAlzheimer'sDiseaseAutismConcussionCreutzfeldt-JakobDiseaseEpilepsyGuillain-BarréSyndromeLouGehrig’sDisease(ALS)MultipleSclerosisParkinson'sDiseaseRestlessLegsSyndromeSpinalMuscularAtrophyStrokeMoreRelatedTopicsBrain&NervousSystemReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyNehaPathak, MDonAugust25,2020ArticlesOnConcussionWhatIsaConcussion?WhatIsPost-ConcussionSyndrome?BrainInjuriesSlideshowWhatIsaConcussion?Themostcommonandleastserioustypeoftraumaticbraininjuryiscalledaconcussion.ThewordcomesfromtheLatinconcutere,whichmeans"toshakeviolently."Aconcussionismostoftencausedbyasuddendirectbloworbumptothehead.AccordingtotheCDC,between2001and2009,anestimated173,285peopleunderage19weretreatedinhospitalemergencyroomsforconcussionsrelatedtosportsandrecreationactivities.Othercausesincludecarandbicycleaccidents,work-relatedinjuries,falls,andfighting.ConcussionCausesandRiskFactorsThebrainismadeofsofttissue.It'scushionedbyspinalfluidandencasedintheprotectiveshelloftheskull.Whenyouhaveabloworbumptoyourhead,theimpactcanjoltyourbrain.Sometimes,itliterallycausesittomovearoundinyourhead.Traumaticbraininjuriescancausebruising,damagetothebloodvessels,andinjurytothenerves.Theresultisyourbraindoesn'tfunctionasitshould.Ifyou'vehadaconcussion,visionmaybedisturbed,youmayloseequilibrium,oryoumayfallunconscious.Inshort,thebrainisconfused.Somethingsincreaseyourriskforaconcussion,including:Falls,particularlyinchildrenandolderadultsPlayingacontactsportLackofpropersafetygearorsupervisionforcontactsports Car,motorcycle,bicycle,andotheraccidentsthatcauseablowtotheheadBeinghit,struckwithanobject,orotherphysicalabuseMilitaryserviceAnearlierconcussionConcussionSymptomsConcussionscanbetrickytodiagnose.Thoughyoumayhaveavisiblecutorbruiseonyourhead,youcan'tseeaconcussion.Signsmaynotappearfordaysorweeksaftertheinjury.Somesymptomslastforjustseconds;othersmaylinger.Concussionsarefairlycommon.Someestimatessayamildbraintraumaissustainedevery21secondsintheU.S.Butit'simportanttorecognizethesignsofaconcussionsoyoucantaketheproperstepstotreattheinjury.Therearesomecommonphysical,mental,andemotionalsymptomsapersonmaydisplayfollowingaconcussion.Signsoftraumaticbraininjuryinclude:ConfusionorfeelingdazedClumsinessSlurredspeechNauseaorvomitingHeadacheBalanceproblemsordizzinessBlurredvisionSensitivitytolightSensitivitytonoiseSluggishnessRinginginearsIrritabilityorotherbehaviororpersonalitychangesDifficultyconcentratingLossofmemoryFatigueorsleepinessLossofconsciousnessForgetfulnesssuchasrepeatingyourself  SlowedresponsetoquestionsProblemswithsleepDepressionProblemswithtasteorsmellConcussionsinChildrenBecausetheirheadsaredisproportionatelylargecomparedtotherestoftheirbody,concussionsoftenoccurinyoungchildren.Askidsenteradolescence,theyexperiencerapidheightandweightgain.Botharefactorsthatmakethemmorepronetoaccidentsthanadults.Ifachildhasaconcussion,anadultshouldmonitorthemforthefirst24hours.Don’tgivemedications,includingaspirin,whichmaycausebleeding,toachildwithouttalkingtoadoctorfirst.It'simportanttowatchforbehavioralchanges.Youngchildren,especially,maynotbeabletofullycommunicatewhatthey’refeeling,soitiscriticaltowatchthemclosely.Symptomsofconcussionsinchildreninclude: HeadacheDizzinessProblemswithbalanceUpsetstomachorvomitingFatigueSensitivitytolightornoiseMentalfogginessorslowedthinkingProblemswithmemory,concentration,orfocusFeelingmoreirritable,sad,nervous,oremotionalthanusualProblemswithsleepTypesofConcussionsDoctorsrank,orgrade,theseverityofconcussionsbasedonthingslikelossofconsciousness,amnesia,andlossofequilibrium.Therearethreegrades:Grade1:Mild,withsymptomsthatlastlessthan15minutesandinvolvenolossofconsciousnessGrade2:Moderate,withsymptomsthatlastlongerthan15minutesandinvolvenolossofconsciousnessGrade3:Severe,inwhichthepersonlosesconsciousness,sometimesforjustafewsecondsConcussionDiagnosisMostpeoplewithconcussionsfullyrecoverwithappropriatetreatment.Butbecauseaconcussioncanbeserious,safeguardingyourselfisimportant.Hereareafewstepstotake:Seekmedicalattention.Ahealthcareprofessionalcandecidehowserioustheconcussionisandwhetheryourequiretreatment.Ifyouhaveagrade1orgrade2concussion,waituntilsymptomsaregonebeforereturningtonormalactivities.Thatcouldtakeseveralminutes,hours,days,orevenaweek.Ifapersonhaslostconsciousness,that’sagrade3concussionthatneedsadoctor’simmediateevaluationandcare.They’llaskhowtheheadinjuryhappenedanddiscussthesymptoms.Thedoctormayalsoaskyousimplequestionssuchas"Wheredoyoulive?,""Whatisyourname?,"or"Whoisthepresident?"Thedoctorasksthesequestionstoevaluatememoryandconcentrationskills.Thedoctormaytestcoordinationandreflexes,whicharebothfunctionsofthecentralnervoussystem.ThedoctormayalsoorderaCTscanoranMRItoruleoutbleedingorotherseriousbraininjury.ConcussionTreatmentandHomeRemediesIfyoudon’tneedhospitalization,thedoctorwillgiveyouinstructionstofollow. Expertsrecommendfollow-upmedicalattentionwithin24to72hoursifsymptomsworsen.Torecoverathome,youshould:Takeabreak.Ifyourconcussionwassustainedduringathleticactivity,stopplayandsititout.Yourbrainneedstimetoproperlyheal,sorestiskey.Definitelydonotresumeplaythesameday.Athletesandchildrenshouldbecloselymonitoredbycoachesuponresumingplay.Ifyouresumeplaytoosoon,youriskagreaterchanceofhavingasecondconcussion,whichcancompoundthedamage.TheAmericanAcademyofNeurologyhasissuedguidelinesaboutresumingactivitiesafteraconcussion.Guardagainstrepeatconcussions.Repeatconcussionscausecumulativeeffectsonthebrain.Successiveconcussionscanhavedevastatingconsequences,includingbrainswelling,permanentbraindamage,long-termdisabilities,orevendeath.Don'treturntonormalactivitiesifyoustillhavesymptoms.Getadoctor'sclearancesoyoucanreturntoworkorplaywithconfidence.Treatpainwithaspirin-freemedications.Yourdoctorwillprescribeamedicationtorelievepainorrecommendanover-the-counteroption.ConcussionPreventionAconcussionisunexpected,soitistoughtoprevent.Butthereareseveralcommonsenseprecautionsyoucantaketolessenthepossibilityoftraumaticbraininjury.Wearprotectiveequipment.Participationinhigh-contact,high-risksportssuchasfootball,hockey,boxing,andrugbycanincreasethelikelihoodofaconcussion.Skateboarding,snowboarding,horsebackriding,androllerbladingarealsoathreattoyourbrain'shealth.Wearingheadgear,padding,andmouthandeyeguardscanhelpsafeguardagainsttraumaticheadinjuries.Wearingabikehelmetcanlowertheriskoftraumaticheadinjuryby85%.ThereisalsoanewC-shapedcollar-likedevicecalled Q-Collarwhichcanbewornbyathletes.Itappliescompressiveforcetotheneckandincreases blood volumetohelpreducemovementofthebrain,whichmayoccurbecauseofhitstothehead.Makesurethatanyequipmentfitsyoucorrectlyandiswell-maintained.Driveandridesmart.Alwayswearaseatbelt,obeypostedspeedlimits,anddon'tusedrugsoralcohol,becausetheycanimpairreactiontime.Don'tfight.Concussionsareoftensustainedduringanassault,andmorementhanwomenreporttraumaticheadinjuries.Reducetripandfallhazardsinyourhome.Clearclutterfromfloorsandhallwaysandmakesureyourhomeiswell-lighted.Exerciseregularly.Itcangiveyoustrongerlegmusclesandbetterbalance,whichcanhelpstaveofffalls.Usehomesafetymeasurestoprotectyourchildren.Installwindowguardsandblockstairways.NextInConcussionWhatIsPost-ConcussionSyndrome?MSBrainFog?TipstoHelpYouThinkClearly10EarlySignsofAlzheimer'sHowtoKeepYourMindSharpWithMSIsItMSorAmIHavingaStroke?MedicalMarijuana:HowIt'sUsedTreatingandPreventingMigrainesAVisualGuidetoConcussionsandBrainInjuriesBennetOmalu,MD:2015HealthHeroHeadBangersConcussion:Symptoms,Causes,TreatmentsPost-ConcussionSyndrome:Symptoms,Treatments,Tests,Recovery,andMoreBrainInjuries:TreatmentandRecoveryofFrancescoBertolottiofModena(Italy)BobWoodruff'sTraumaticBrainInjuryRecoveryConcussionTopicsWhatIsMultipleSclerosis?Learnhowthisdiseaseaffectsthenervoussystem.WhyIsMyMuscleTwitching?Causesofspasmsandcramps.KeepYourBrainInGoodShapeTipstostaysmart,sharp,andfocused.MedicalMarijuanaWhatisitusedfor?ArticleIsItMSorAmIHavingaStroke?SlideshowHowHeadInjuriesHurtYourBrainArticleVertigo:Types,CausesARTICLEMedicalMarijuana:CanItTreatMS?SlideshowWhatIsaStroke?SlideshowMSSymptoms&CausesSlideshowSignsofAlzheimer'sDiseaseQuizHowWellDoYouKnowYourBrain?WhatIsSluggishCognitiveTempo?StrokeExplainedinPhotosParkinson'sDiseaseOverviewTreatingandPreventingMigrainesMS&YourBrain:10WaystoStaySharpHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads