How to Deal With a Head Concussion?
A head concussion can result in many physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Learning about the causes of a head concussion helps you understand why you feel the way you do following a sports injury.
Having a better idea of what to expect after sustaining a brain injury will also help know when to seek medical attention for continued support and assistance.
The Causes of Head Injuries While Playing Sports?
Head injuries can happen during any type of recreational activity that involves moving around or falling onto something hard such as the ground, pavement, or an opponent. Some sports that have been found to be particularly dangerous when it comes to causing concussions include soccer, football, and ice hockey. However, it is important to remember that any type of head injury can result in concussion symptoms, regardless of whether or not you were participating in a sport when it happened.
Why are Concussions Sometimes Called Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Concussions are sometimes referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries because they commonly affect the function or structure of your brain, just like other more significant types of trauma would. Head injuries that lead to concussions are also often caused by something less powerful than a car accident, for example. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t take them seriously and seek medical attention right away if you have sustained one. Serious complications could develop in some cases, even if the original trauma was relatively minor.
The Symptoms of a Head Concussion?
Symptoms that show you have sustained a head concussion include:
Headaches, as well as some types of pain behind your eyes or in your neck. You may also feel dizzy, off-balance, have blurry vision, nausea/vomiting going on, slurred speech, or confusion at times. You may not feel any of these symptoms at first, and they can come and go over the course of days or weeks. In some cases, it is possible for individuals to lose consciousness after sustaining a blow to the head that would otherwise be expected to result only in a mild concussion. It’s also important to remember that more serious forms of brain damage can happen without losing consciousness which might make it difficult to recognize that you need further medical attention.
How Long do the Symptoms of a Head Concussion Last? For some people, symptoms of head injuries can go away within minutes or hours following an accident. For others, however, it may take days or even weeks before feeling back to normal again. How long your symptoms last will depend on several things, including the severity of the injury as well as how well you are able to rest and recover. If you start showing signs that something more serious might be happening, such as seizures or increasing confusion, for example, it’s time to call 911 right away.