Head Concussion Facts

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head, a fall, or any other injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull.

Symptoms of Concussion

Often, there are no visible signs of a brain injury. Symptoms of a concussion range from mild to severe, and can last for hours, days, weeks, or even months.

Some people will have obvious immediate symptoms including:

• Temporary loss of consciousness (passing out) – this does not always occur
• Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event (no memory of injury)
• Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
• Confusion or feeling “foggy”
• Dizziness or “seeing stars”
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea or vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Fatigue

Some symptoms of concussion may be delayed in onset by hours or days after injury, including:

• Concentration and memory complaints
• Irritability and other personality changes
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Sleep disturbances
• Psychological adjustment problems and depression
• Disorders of taste and smell

Symptoms that require immediate emergency medical attention (even if symptoms are delayed) include:

• Headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Slurred speech
• Excessive drowsiness or inability to be awakened
• One pupil (black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other
• Convulsions or seizures
• Cannot recognize people or places
• Increasing confusion, restlessness, agitation
• Unusual behavior
• Loss of consciousness (even if brief)

In rare cases, concussions cause more serious problems. Repeated or severe concussions may lead to long-lasting problems including:

• Abnormal movement
• Difficulty learning or speaking
• Permanent brain damage (the chance of this is small)
• Blood clot on the brain

What Causes a Concussion?

Common Causes of Concussion

Your brain is a soft organ that is surrounded by spinal fluid and protected by your skull. If your head or body is hit hard enough, your brain can crash into your skull and be injured. These include:

• Athletic sports – Especially contact sports, most commonly including:
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Hockey
  • Boxing
  • Soccer
  • Skiing/snowboarding
• Car accidents – This can occur if the head hits the steering wheel or other object in the vehicle, or with sudden, forceful movement of the head back and forth (whiplash concussion).
• Falls – Occurs if the head hits an object during a fall, or hits the ground at the end of a fall.
• Fights – Hard hits directly to the head can create enough trauma to cause a concussion.

Potential Complications from a Head Concussion Injury

After a concussion, the levels of certain brain chemicals are altered. It usually takes about a week for these levels to stabilize again. This timeline varies, and it is important to not return to normal activities if you’re still experiencing signs and symptoms.

If you already have a medical condition at the time of your concussion, it may take longer for you to recover from the concussion. These conditions include:

• Chronic headaches
• Anxiety and depression – this can make it harder to adjust to the symptoms of the concussion
• Previous concussion – on rare occasions, receiving another concussion before the brain has healed can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage, and even death. This is especially true in children and teenagers.

After you have recovered from your concussion, you should protect yourself from having another one. People who have repeated concussions may have serious long-term problems. Potential complications include:

• Epilepsy – the risk is doubled within the first five years after injury in people who have a concussion
• Cumulative effects of multiple brain injuries – evidence exists indicating that people who have had multiple concussive brain injuries over the course of their lives may acquire lasting, and even progressive, cognitive impairment that limits functional ability.
• Second impact syndrome – sometimes, experiencing a second concussion before the first concussion has resolved may result in rapid, and typically fatal, brain swelling.

It is common for individuals who have experienced a concussion to have some lingering symptoms that may be related to cervical (neck) joint or vestibular dysfunction. Having this evaluated by a spine specialist will assist in diagnosis, recovery, and resolution of these symptoms.