After a Concussion
After a ConcussionPlaying contact sports is just one way people get concussions, which are brain injuries caused by a forceful hitto the head. They can also result from car crashes, falls and other accidents, or military combat.“Usually concussion symptoms appear right away or shortly after the injury. But in some cases,symptoms are delayed for days or even months.”Symptoms include confusion, irritability, memory loss, headache, dizziness, blurry vision, nausea or vomiting,and sometimes a loss of consciousness. Anyone with a suspected concussion should see a heath careprovider right away.“Typically, we’ll evaluate somebody’s vision and balance, as well as memory when we’re evaluating fora concussion.”In some cases, a CT scan or other imaging test may be done to check for bleeding or swelling in the brain.People need to be closely monitored for the first 24 hours after a concussion. They should not sleep for longstretches and should be awakened periodically to make sure their symptoms aren’t getting worse. Symptomsrequiring immediate medical help include trouble waking up, severe headache, vomiting, seizures, confusion,and problems with speech, vision or balance.“The best treatment for concussion is rest. That includes avoiding sports, homework, video games andTV.”Athletes should wait to get back into the game until their provider has cleared them. Getting a secondconcussion before the first one has healed can increase the risk of long-term problems and permanent braindamage.“Most people start to feel better a couple of weeks after the injury, but sometimes recovery can take amonth or longer. If you’re not getting better or have any concerns, it’s always a good idea to contactyour health care provider.”This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG54189A EN AfterAConcussion.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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