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Understanding concussion
Audience: patients-public, students-learners ยท Review state: published
What it is
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that makes the head and brain move rapidly back and forth. The sudden movement stretches and stresses brain cells and temporarily changes how the brain works.
Concussions are called mild because they are not usually life-threatening, but their effects can be serious and need proper care.
Symptoms
Symptoms can appear right away or hours later: headache, dizziness, confusion, feeling dazed, nausea, balance problems, double or blurred vision, sensitivity to light or noise, and trouble concentrating or remembering. Loss of consciousness happens in only a minority of cases.
In children, watch for unusual crying, clumsiness, sleep changes, and loss of interest in usual play.
When to seek emergency help
Emergency care is needed for danger signs after a head injury: one pupil larger than the other, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, slurred speech, seizures, increasing drowsiness or inability to wake, weakness or numbness, or unusual behavior.
Anyone with a suspected concussion should stop playing sport or working right away and be assessed; a second injury before recovery can be much more dangerous.
Recovery and prevention
The main treatment is rest, both physical and mental, in the first day or two, followed by a gradual return to normal activity as symptoms allow. Most people recover fully within a few weeks; persistent symptoms deserve medical follow-up.
Prevention means seat belts, helmets for cycling and contact sports, and fall-proofing homes for young children and older adults. Returning to sport follows a step-by-step progression, and no one should return to play the same day as a suspected concussion.
Limitations
General educational overview, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Any suspected concussion needs assessment, and danger signs are an emergency.