What Is a Concussion?

Concussions can occur from falls, impact sports injury, car accident or even through a number of your typical daily activities. These injuries can cause your head to shake quickly back and forth. While concussions are not usually life-threatening, they can result in serious complication where medical attention is necessary. These traumatic brain injuries tend to be mild but can lead to an altered state mentally such as becoming unconscious.

Concussions are often confused with contusions. Concussion will affect the brain specifically while contusions are actually bruises. Contusions will often go away on their own and tend to occur on the head and other parts but are not usually a cause for concern.

Concussions can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the severity of the type of injury an individual suffers. While some people may lose consciousness, not everyone who has a concussion will. Knowing what the symptoms are when you have a concussion or if someone else has a concussion is important, especially if medical attention is needed. While you may have had a better understanding of "what is a concussion", you also want to be aware of some of the most common symptoms you or someone else may exhibit when having a concussion, which can include:

• Trouble with memory.

• Confusion.

• Feeling drowsy or sluggish.

• Dizziness.

• Vision problems such as blurred vision or double vision.

• Headaches.

• Nausea.

• Vomiting.

• Light or noise sensitivity.

• Problems with balance.

• Delayed reactions to stimuli.

The symptoms of a concussion may appear immediately or may take hours to become noticeable. Some individuals may even not notice any symptoms of suffering from a concussion for months after their injury.

If you suspect someone you know has suffered from a concussion, look for these signs:

• Increase in irritability.

• Appearing off balance.

• Uncoordinated.

• Difficulty walking.

• Seizures.

• Blood or fluids coming from the ears or nose.

• Different pupil sizes.

• Eye movement that is not normal.

• Prolonged confusion.

• Slurring speech.

• Vomiting.

• Loss of consciousness.

• Coma state.

It is vital that you get your loved one medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms after they have suffered from an injury.

Babies will also present symptoms of a concussion that are similar to the ones already mentioned such as:

• Being irritable.

• Overly drowsy.

• Vomiting.

• Fluids draining from the ears, nose or mouth.

It can be more difficult to notice concussion symptoms in babies immediately since they are unable to walk or talk. While concussion will not cause permanent damage, it is best to seek medical attention for your child if you notice these symptoms or if they become unconscious.

Even after discovering "what is a concussion" and noticing the symptoms of one, you will go through a recovery phase after the injury. You may experience other symptoms during the recovery phase of your concussion. Some of these symptoms can include:

• Being more irritable.

• Light or sound sensitivity.

• Inability to focus or concentrate.

• Headaches.

So if you suspect that someone has suffered a concussion, it is best to seek medical attention immediately, especially if this occurs due to an injury they suffered from a sporting injury or car accident. In this situation, additional damage to the spine or neck could occur, so you want to refrain from moving the individual to reduce the risk of further injury. If it is necessary to move the individual, this should be done with the utmost care to keep the neck and back stationary.

Treatment for concussion will typically be ongoing. Right after you have suffered an injury, you should see a doctor. While some individuals can return home the same day, others may need to stay in the hospital to be monitored and watched carefully. Those who are able to return home should also be watched carefully and may need to seek medical attention again if they exhibit these symptoms:

• Prolonged headache.

• Decrease in coordination.

• Continuous vomiting or nausea.

• Difficult speaking.

• Unable to wake them.

• Different size pupils.

• Seizures or convulsions.

• Memory issues.

• Confusion.

• Unconscious.

The days or weeks after someone has suffered a concussion, symptoms may still persist. While some individuals will return to normal in just a few hours, it is important to take things slow for a while. You have known "what is a concussion" and its symptoms, so if the symptoms return during any activities, you'll want to stop and allow yourself to rest. Aside from letting your body and brain rest, you will want to:

• Avoid alcohol consumption.

• Avoid medications or illegal drugs not prescribed by your doctor.

• Refrain from partaking in physical or mentally demanding activities.

• Avoid driving, operating heavy machinery or riding a bike until you doctor gives you the OK.

• Ice areas that may be swollen for 20 minutes at a time.