If you’ve ever sustained a serious blow to the head, you can appreciate the shocking pain, disorientation and following concern about that knock to your noggin. If you’ve seen someone else receive a hit to the head, you might be worried about next steps. Depending on the severity of the trauma, concussion is usually the first thing that comes to mind, which is why it’s important to proceed with caution.
Head injuries are tricky because there is often minimal or no visible outer damage to signal what may be going on inside. Concussions are a common result of blows to the head but are sometimes overlooked because the injured person does not exhibit any concerning symptoms.
A concussion is the term used to describe a traumatic brain injury caused by the jarring or shaking of the head and the consequential slamming of the brain against the inside of the skull. Concussions can become serious health concerns and if not properly diagnosed, may remain untreated.
If a person sustains a significant blow to the head but does not lose consciousness, have memory issues or present with any accompanying lacerations, bumps or bruises, many people think that everything is fine and neglect to seek proper medical care. However, there are some specific dos and don’ts that should be adhered to after a concussion to ensure that the individual experiences a full recovery with no lasting side effects of the injury.
Symptoms of a Concussion
It is not necessary for a person to show all symptoms of a concussion, and symptoms can vary widely from person to person and situation to situation. Some people are fortunate and recover quickly from a concussion without any special care or medical intervention, while others need days or weeks of extra rest and therapy to recover fully. Serious or repeat concussions can cause serious and lasting side effects and may affect a person’s learning abilities, movement and speech.