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Concussions

Symptoms and Treatment

Concussions are a common injury in sports. Many people experience this mild traumatic brain injury for a variety of reasons, such as falling and hitting your head, heading the ball in soccer, or colliding with another football player. While concussions are usually not serious, there are symptoms to be aware of in case of an emergency.

Please be advised: this blog post is not meant to offer any medical advice and is for informational purposes only. If you believe you or a loved one has a concussion, please visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a concussion may include:

  • Headache/a feeling of pressure in the head
  • Confusion or feeling as if in a mental “fog”
  • Dizziness or “seeing stars”
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dazed appearance
  • Temporary loss of consciousness
  • Amnesia surrounding the event
  • Slurred speech
  • Delayed response to simple questions

When to See a Doctor

If you believe you or someone you know has a concussion, seek medical help immediately. While many concussions are mild, concussions are a traumatic brain injury. If you experience any of the following, your injury may be more severe:

  • Repeated vomiting
  • A loss of consciousness lasting longer than 30 seconds
  • A headache that gets worse over time
  • Changes in behavior, such as irritability (especially if this is not a usual personality trait)
  • Changes in physical coordination (stumbling or clumsiness)
  • Confusion or disorientation, such as difficulty recognizing previously-familiar people or places
  • Slurred speech or other changes in speech

Treatment

The most common way to treat a concussion is plenty of rest, avoiding strenuous activities, and refraining from driving until you get cleared by a doctor. Surgery and other types of medical procedures are not necessary unless serious bleeding or swelling occurs. If you believe you may have a concussion, make an appointment with a doctor or go to an urgent care center immediately.

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