What Is a Concussion? What Are the Telltale Signs? How Can You Maximize the Potential for Full Recovery?
From movies to public service announcements to the news, you’ll find information about concussions just about every time you turn around. Recognizing the symptoms early and taking the right steps can help minimize the short and long-term consequences.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, typically caused by some impact to your head, neck or shoulders. A direct blow or bump to the head often causes such an injury, but you can also suffer a concussion without any impact. For example, in a whiplash-type injury, the sudden and violent snapping of your neck and head (similar to the movement of a whip) can cause your brain to bounce off the inside of your skull, causing tissue damage, internal bleeding and inflammation.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Concussions?
The most frequent reasons a person suffers a concussion are:
- Falls, particularly when the victim is an infant/toddler or a senior citizen
- Motor vehicle accidents—concussions are common, even at relatively low speed impact
- Recreational sports accidents
- Assaults
- Being struck by something
How Do I Know If I Have Suffered a Concussion?
A concussion may affect you in four basic ways:
- Physically—You may experience persistent headaches or nausea, or suddenly have extreme sensitivity to light or sound
- Cognitively—You may experience challenges with communication, mental processing, memory or reasoning
- Emotionally—You may have uncharacteristic sadness, irritability, anxiety, depression or mood swings
- Interference with sleep patterns—You may suffer from insomnia or excessive fatigue
What Should I Do If I Think I Have Suffered a Concussion?
You should seek medical attention immediately after any blow to the head. If you can’t move under your own power or feel unsteady, be willing to travel to the hospital by ambulance. Make an appointment with your primary care physician as soon as possible. Your doctor can conduct the necessary assessment and either prescribe a course of treatment or refer you to a specialist.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.
