Tough Blow: The Dangers of Concussions

A knock to the head might not always appear serious, but the damage can be a lot more devastating than it looks. Concussions are a form of traumatic brain injury, usually occurring as the result of a forceful blow. Just because most people walk away from the event, that doesn’t mean damage hasn’t occurred.

We may want to brush off our injuries, especially when everything looks physically intact, but that can be a serious mistake. Here’s what everyone should know about the dangers of concussions.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion occurs when a heavy blow or jolt to the head sends the brain bouncing or twisting in the skull. It usually occurs during sports injuries, car accidents or accidental falls, but a person can suffer a concussion from something as simple as an elbow to the head or whiplash. Contrary to what some think, sufferers don’t always lose consciousness. Actually, only about 10% of sports-related concussions cause the sufferer to fall unconscious.

The typical signs of a concussion may or may not coincide with a full knockout:

• The person may appear to be in a daze, especially at first, and may be slow to respond to questions.
• Movements may seem clumsy, and the person might feel dizzy or temporarily lose their balance.
• Memories of events right before or after the injury may be lost.
• The sufferer may show changes in mood or personality.
• Headaches, nausea and vomiting may occur.

Every concussion is different so t's important to know that concussion may be present even if only one (or in some cases, even none) of the symptoms are obvious.

The trauma of a concussion can result in structural and chemical changes that might damage the brain. We tend to refer to concussions as “mild” injuries, but it’s important to remember that traumatic brain injury is never mild. True, most concussions aren’t serious in the greater sense, but some are. So how can you tell?

When to Seek Medical Assistance

In some cases, concussion damage can be severe and require immediate medical care. Look for these signs when a severe concussion is suspected:

• Pupils are uneven in size.
• The person is unusually groggy or won’t wake at all.
• Slurred speech and other neurological symptoms are present, or the person is exhibiting extremely unusual behavior.
• The person vomits repeatedly or starts having convulsions or seizures.
• They have a persistent headache that worsens over time.

Any suspected concussion merits a call to the doctor; a severe one deserves a trip to the emergency room. In some cases, a blow to the head can have fatal consequences so it's not something to take lightly.

Minimizing the Risks of Severe Concussion

Some concussions are unavoidable, but we can minimize them by sticking to safety rules when driving, riding bikes and playing sports by wearing all safety gear properly and avoiding unnecessary risks. People who play on sports teams should ask their coaches about techniques and tips to play at their safest keeping in mind that some activities pose higher risks than others. Athletes should never try to continue playing with a concussion; doing so could significantly add to the damage.

Concussions are common injuries, but they can lead to serious consequences if they go ignored. Know the signs and play it safe when engaging in sports or other potentially dangerous activities. A blow to the head is often nothing to worry about, until it suddenly is, and we should all be prepared to act fast if that occurs.

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