A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Concussion and Brain Injuries
Whether you’re recovering from a concussion or have been diagnosed with a brain injury, understanding what happens and how it happens is essential. This article will help you know more about the impact of a mild head injury or Concussion and Brain Injuries in general.
Knowing how to manage the symptoms that can arise after a concussion is also essential. Some common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, and memory problems.
How It Happens
A concussion happens when your brain is bumped or jarred inside the skull. It usually happens during sports but can also occur in motor vehicle accidents or when your head suddenly decelerates or accelerates.
The inner walls of the skull are rigid and protect your brain against penetrating trauma, but they don’t absorb all the impact of a blow. It causes your brain to bounce or twist inside the skull, damaging your brain cells and causing chemical changes in your brain that can affect how you think and feel.
The indications and symptoms of these injuries, which can be mild or severe, include fatigue, disorientation, headaches, dizziness, memory loss, and nausea. The severity of your injury will determine the treatment you receive.
Symptoms of Concussion and Brain Injuries
A strike or jolt to the head or neck can result in concussions and brain damage. These blows or jolts cause the brain and skull to rush back and forth, which can stretch and damage brain cells.
These traumatic brain injuries are often mild, although in some cases, they can be severe. Symptoms can include headache, confusion, memory loss, dizziness, fatigue, mood changes, and trouble thinking. Remember, these symptoms could alter and deteriorate over time. These may linger for several days, weeks, or months.
These patients must visit Integrated Brain Centers for medical care if their post-concussion symptoms are chronic. Post-concussion syndrome is the term for it.
Generally, after a concussion, most people can return to regular activity within a few weeks. But some people will continue to experience persisting symptoms like headache, fatigue, dizziness, and problems with memory and concentration for weeks to months after their injury.
Diagnosis
A healthcare professional can diagnose a concussion by taking a history of your injury and performing a physical exam. They may also perform tests for memory, language skills, and balance.
The doctor might also suggest a test to see if there are signs of a more severe brain injury, such as bleeding in the brain. These tests include a CT or MRI scan.
If your healthcare professional thinks you need treatment, they will give you specific instructions for recovery. The goal is to get you back to your normal activities as soon as possible without further injuries.
Generally speaking, concussion recovery takes a few weeks. However, symptoms can persist in up to 20 percent of people who have sustained a concussion.
Treatment for Concussion and Brain Injuries
There are numerous concussion and brain injury therapies available. Treatments can include rest, medicine, and a gradual return to activities.
Most people recover from a concussion without complications. However, some people may have persisting symptoms for weeks or months. It is called post-concussion syndrome.
A doctor will look at a person’s medical history, perform a physical exam, and ask questions about how the injury occurred. They may also order a CT scan or MRI of the head.
The doctor will also check for blood or another bleeding in the brain. It is rare but can cause severe problems if not treated immediately.
Patients should be kept home for a few days after a concussion to give the brain time to heal. They can also take over-the-counter pain medicines or headache medicine to relieve symptoms.
