Safety Guideline for Concussion
Concussion causes
A sudden hit or bump on the head can cause a concussion. Read on to understand concussion causes, symptoms and treatment.
A concussion, a mild brain injury caused due to a sudden or direct hit on the head, can sometimes become very severe. Our skull protects our brain, and there is a cushioning of spinal fluid between head and brain. However, Concussion is also possible when any other part of your body takes the impact, but the injury somehow travels to the brain.
A concussion is easy to diagnose without the help of doctors. It generally takes fourteen to twenty-one days to get better from a concussion. However, if it is left untreated, the damages might get severe and can become life-threatening.
A concussion comes under mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which can temporarily affect your brain's functions. It is among the most common types of brain injury. It happens more frequently in young children and older adults.
Let us dig deeper into all the factors related to a concussion.
Types of Concussion
There are three types of concussions. Doctors have ranked it based on severity and things like amnesia, loss of equilibrium, and consciousness.
Grade 1-
One does not lose consciousness and has mild symptoms that last for barely 15-minutes.
Grade 2-
It might last for more than 15 minutes with moderate symptoms without losing consciousness.
Grade 3-
It is pretty severe as the person might lose consciousness and face other symptoms.
Concussion in Children
Young children are more prone to having concussions. A concussion can happen if the child falls from the bike or bumps its head somewhere. Since children's heads are large compared to the rest of the body, concussions frequently appear in young adults. Read more about Concussion on injuredcare.com.
It is advised not to do self-medication if your child has a concussion, and seeking professional help from a doctor is better after monitoring them for 24-hours. The symptoms of a concussion in children usually include-
Balance issues
Vomiting and dizziness
Fatigue and headache
Light and noise sensitivity
Lack of concentration or focus
Mental fogginess
Emotional distress like more irritated, sad or anxious
Disturbed sleep cycle
Slow thinking and mental fogginess
What Are the Leading Concussion Causes?
When you suddenly bump your head with force, and your brain stretches to hit the inside of your skull, which leads to chemical changes in the brain, damaging brain cells, which is known as a concussion.
It happens as the brain is protected by the spinal fluid, separating the skull and the brain. It acts as a cushion for the brain. But, when you hit your head with a sudden force, the brain stretches, bounces, or gets twisted. Due to this, your brain will not function normally for a short period.
The most common ways by which can cause a person concussion are:
Motor vehicle accident
Sports injury
Contact sport injury
Fall from a bike
Physical abuse
Being hit by a hard object on the head
What Are the Symptoms to Know a Person Is Suffering From a Concussion?
Several symptoms indicate that a person has a concussion. Depending on how severe the hit was, the sign may vary from person to person. Moreover, unlike any other injury, it is pretty tricky to diagnose a concussion.
A person may not have any visible cuts or bruises but might have a severe concussion. However, it is crucial to see and analyze the symptoms of a concussion before it leads to more severe damage in the brain.
The most common symptoms of a concussion are:
Headache and dizziness
Vomiting
Confusion and clumsiness
Balance and vision problems
Sensitivity to noise and light
Difficulty in concentration and focus
Loss of consciousness and memory
Disrupted sleep
Depression, anxiety, and nervousness
Behavior changes and sluggishness
Difficulties in senses like taste, smell, and speech
Forgetfulness and fatigue
What Is the Proper Diagnosis of a Person With a Concussion?
There could be times when the person suffering from a concussion shows late symptoms. In this case, consulting a doctor is preferable. The neurologist will conduct a thorough examination to be sure. During the checkup, the doctor will assess your -
Neurological reflexes and functions
The reaction of your eyes to light
Eye movement and vision
Balance and coordination
Strength and neck muscles for tenderness
Thinking ability test
Problem-solving
Memory and focus
If the person has Grade 1 or 2 concussion, the symptoms usually go away in a couple of weeks, and you can return to your everyday life after that. You don't require MRIs or CT scans for them.
However, if you have a Grade 3 concussion, the neurologist might conduct the scans to assess the severity of the Concussion. They are essential to know the seriousness and check any internal bleeding or any other serious injury.
What Are the Effective Treatments or Home Remedies for the Concussion?
The most important thing to recover from a concussion is physical and mental rest. However, you cannot put your whole life on hold and sleep through it. Another recommendation experts make to avoid the activities that trigger the symptoms-
Excess on-screen time (laptops or smartphones)
Reading
Television
Video games
Loud music
Hard physician activity
Doctors can treat Concussions of Grade 1 and 2 by resting and slowly getting back to everyday life. It will take you about two weeks to ultimately bring back to your life if you take care of yourself properly. Moreover, you will also have to guard yourself against future concussions.
Repetitive hits on the head can do some severe and permanent damage to your brain. Experts also recommend consulting a doctor once again before completely resuming your daily life like before.
What Safety Measures Should One Take To Prevent Getting a Concussion?
No one can predict if and when somebody will take a hit in the head or have a motor vehicle accident. However, it is often advisable to take some preventive measures while doing some activities that might result in you having a concussion.
Wearing protective gears-
Injuries from car or bike accidents, high-contact sports injury, or violence may result in the person to bump its head and have a concussion. Therefore, it is good to wear proper headgear while riding a bike or skateboarding and put on a seatbelt while driving, lowering the risk of traumatic brain injuries.
Fight and Abuse-
the cases of Concussion are more in men as compared to women. The main reason is the physical assault that is often a result of fights and violence.
Safe home-
It is essential to make your home trip fall-free. Not just for the kids but yourself too. Keeping your home clutter-free and organized will help you maintain a safe home from concussions.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Severe Concussion?
Usually, the symptoms of the Concussion start getting better after 24 to 48 hours. However, if a child or adult shows signs of deteriorated health due to a Concussion, someone should take them to the emergency room. People must take this even after a day or two. The deteriorated signs of a concussion are-
Unbearably severe headache
Seizures
Loss of consciousness for more than a minute
Severe dizziness
Loss of balance
Difficulty in recognizing people or places
Confusion and nervous
Numbness and weakness
Watery discharge from nose or ears
Blood from ears
Dilated pupils
Extreme fatigue or drowsiness and slurred speech
Fainting
If these symptoms continue after 24 hours, it is advisable to call an ambulance and rush the person to the emergency room. In these cases, neurologists conduct CT scans and MRIs to check internal bleeding or other serious injuries incurred during the hit.
What Are Some Myths Revolving Around Concussions?
Similarly, there have been a lot of myths going around related to concussions. It is always a better choice to learn deeply about an unpredictable medical condition and can happen to anyone, anytime. It will allow you to deal with it more efficiently and correctly.
Allow us to burst those myths for you with the facts.
MYTH 1
A person suffering from a concussion must stay and rest in a dark room.
FACT- It is entirely false. For a person to recover from a concussion, experts recommend staying active by practicing mild cognitive and physical exercises, along with an appropriate amount of rest. It allows a speedy recovery as compared to resting or sleeping throughout the Concussion.
MYTH 2
Everyone who has a Concussion loses consciousness.
FACT- Incorrect. Losing consciousness is a part of mild traumatic brain injury but not an obvious one. A person can be wholly conscious yet suffer from a concussion. Moreover- other illnesses have symptoms similar to that of a concussion, like chemotherapy and mini-stroke.
MYTH 3
Doctors cure Concussion in two weeks.
FACT- As mentioned before, the duration and severity of a concussion depend on how hard the person hit their head. The symptoms of a concussion can linger for months or years after the injury. It is known as a post-concussion syndrome and happens when the neurons of the affected person cannot communicate efficiently with the blood vessels supplying them with the energy.
Essential Things to Know About the Concussion
Overcoming a concussion is not something that can happen overnight. It takes time and a lot of rest. However, even though you do not show any signs of concussion symptoms anymore, it is still advised to be on the back foot for some time.
Understand and listen to your body
Even though you appear physically fit, it is not necessary that you feel fit. It is essential to listen to your body and believe in your instincts. If it is not feeling right, it might not be correct.
Healing takes time
Any brain injury is a sensitive issue. Proper care and getting better from a concussion for an average person takes about two to six weeks. However, it varies from person to person.
The second Concussion is the worst.
If you do not recover entirely and experience another accident that caused you a concussion, it will be a far worse experience than the first one. It might even cause more damage than the first one, and those damages will be pretty severe.
Effects of multiple Concussion
Repeated concussions, even though they are mild, can cause some irreversible damage. It
increases the risk of brain conditions like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, or other brain disorders.
To Conclude
It is essential to understand the seriousness of an illness. Being well-aware of all signs and symptoms will help you act quickly in a distressing situation.
A concussion is a tricky thing to understand. One needs to have deep knowledge of all the factors regarding it. By understanding it, you can help your loved ones in the situation. Taking precautions is equally essential too.
https://research.injuredcare.com/auto/auto-accident-concussion/
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