Who Are At Risk ?Sportsperson who have had previous concussions, getting involved in contact sports like football or hockey, being a victim of bike accident and soldiers who are combating the nation are at high risk of developing concussion. Some concussions can cause complications like Epilepsy, disability of mental function, post concussion syndrome and severe headaches.Diagnosis :Your doctor will hear from you about sudden blow or injury to the head and evaluate your vision, hearing ability, balance and other sensation. He may ask you few questions to judge your memory and your ability to retrieve information. He may order for imaging tests like CT scan, brain X-ray or MRI scanning. Various other tests may also be done depending on the condition of the patient.Concussion Treatment :The mode of treatment varies according to the stability of the patient who suffered a concussion. Taking complete rest can improve most of the symptoms if the blow is mild. You can take leave for few days from school or office and not involved in any type of vigorous physical activity. Mild to moderate headache can be treated with acetaminophen or other pain killers.People who had post concussive syndrome may need long-term treatment that involves neurological as well as psychological intervention. Some people may develop Anxiety, depression, mood swing, and change in personality and sleep disturbance after concussion. If you have had multiple concussions, you should not return to sports in future. In rare cases, when a second concussion occurs before complete healing of first concussion, it can cause fatal brain swelling and lead to death.Tips for Prevention :Always wear protective gears and helmets while involved in any sports activity. Choose the right size that fits your head aptly. Safety experts recommend wearing head gear by people involved in soccer and martial arts. While riding bike wearing helmet can reduce the damage done to the brain in case of accident. Never drive your car after drinking and always wear seatbelt while driving. Educate your children about the seriousness of fall and head injury.
Showing posts with label Concussion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Concussion. Show all posts
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Concussion – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention
A Concussion is a sudden brain injury that occurs due to trauma, motor accidents or fall. Any blow to the head can easily affect the brain and alter the way it functions. Sudden Headache, confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, loss of balance and poor concentration are some of the common symptoms of concussion. Concussions occur commonly in athletes and many times they don’t realize it immediately since it may not cause confusion or any sudden changes immediately after injury. Any injury caused to the brain needs some time for healing. Concussions that occur after trauma are sometimes mild and hence recovery is full in such cases.In medical terms, concussion can be defined as change in brain function, change in mental status that develop due to sudden trauma or blow to the head. All people having concussions will not lose consciousness. Concussions may vary from mild to severe and can affect your memory and judgment skills. According to neuro experts, any concussion should not be taken as mild.In the USA alone, about 19% of sports personalities suffer from concussion each year during play. During college events, it is estimated 32-34% of players have had at least one concussion and 20% have had multiple concussions. An athlete who had one concussion would have second/multiple concussions very likely. Wearing protective headgear or helmets can help in preventing serious injury to the head. Concussion Symptoms :For some people signs and symptoms does not occur immediately after trauma or fall and can be subtle. Some of the common symptoms of concussion are headache, amnesia, confusion, loss of memory and balance, poor concentration, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech and Ringing in Ears. Some people appear dazed for few seconds after a fall or head injury and recover within minutes.For many people, symptoms are delayed by hours or even days or weeks after injury. Such signs of concussions include irritability, poor concentration, poor memory, disturbed sleep, light/noise sensitivity and psychological problems like Depression. Infants and young children may not be able to tell what they feel. In such cases, parents can check for clues like irritability, excessive crying, appearing dazed, loss of balance and change in eating and sleeping patterns.How Does This Happen?Your brain is fully protected by the skull from any type of trauma or injury. Brain is enveloped by special liquid called cerebrospinal fluid which provides cushioning effect. However any abrupt blow or fall with violet force can seriously affect the brain resulting in tearing of blood vessels and nerve fibers. Sometimes, head injury can cause microscopic damage to the brain cells that may not be visible even by CT scan. The tissues of the brain can develop swelling and compress the brain and its substance thus affecting the normal blood flow. In severe cases the brain becomes deprived of oxygenated blood and can cause Stroke.Any fracture to the skull can also affect the brain substance causing inflammation and bleeding. Seek immediate medical treatment if you have symptoms like motor dysfunction (impaired motor function), severe pain (headache), impaired cognitive function (difficulty in concentrating, confusion, disorientation etc) and slurred speech. These are serious symptoms that need to be treated at once. Concussion Causes :Sudden injury to the head like fall or violent force can cause concussion. The brain substance will suffer a jerk movement back and forth and bombard against the walls of the skull during violent blow to the head. Motor accidents, sudden fall and head injury during sports events are the major causes of concussion.Who Are At Risk ?Sportsperson who have had previous concussions, getting involved in contact sports like football or hockey, being a victim of bike accident and soldiers who are combating the nation are at high risk of developing concussion. Some concussions can cause complications like Epilepsy, disability of mental function, post concussion syndrome and severe headaches.Diagnosis :Your doctor will hear from you about sudden blow or injury to the head and evaluate your vision, hearing ability, balance and other sensation. He may ask you few questions to judge your memory and your ability to retrieve information. He may order for imaging tests like CT scan, brain X-ray or MRI scanning. Various other tests may also be done depending on the condition of the patient.Concussion Treatment :The mode of treatment varies according to the stability of the patient who suffered a concussion. Taking complete rest can improve most of the symptoms if the blow is mild. You can take leave for few days from school or office and not involved in any type of vigorous physical activity. Mild to moderate headache can be treated with acetaminophen or other pain killers.People who had post concussive syndrome may need long-term treatment that involves neurological as well as psychological intervention. Some people may develop Anxiety, depression, mood swing, and change in personality and sleep disturbance after concussion. If you have had multiple concussions, you should not return to sports in future. In rare cases, when a second concussion occurs before complete healing of first concussion, it can cause fatal brain swelling and lead to death.Tips for Prevention :Always wear protective gears and helmets while involved in any sports activity. Choose the right size that fits your head aptly. Safety experts recommend wearing head gear by people involved in soccer and martial arts. While riding bike wearing helmet can reduce the damage done to the brain in case of accident. Never drive your car after drinking and always wear seatbelt while driving. Educate your children about the seriousness of fall and head injury.
Who Are At Risk ?Sportsperson who have had previous concussions, getting involved in contact sports like football or hockey, being a victim of bike accident and soldiers who are combating the nation are at high risk of developing concussion. Some concussions can cause complications like Epilepsy, disability of mental function, post concussion syndrome and severe headaches.Diagnosis :Your doctor will hear from you about sudden blow or injury to the head and evaluate your vision, hearing ability, balance and other sensation. He may ask you few questions to judge your memory and your ability to retrieve information. He may order for imaging tests like CT scan, brain X-ray or MRI scanning. Various other tests may also be done depending on the condition of the patient.Concussion Treatment :The mode of treatment varies according to the stability of the patient who suffered a concussion. Taking complete rest can improve most of the symptoms if the blow is mild. You can take leave for few days from school or office and not involved in any type of vigorous physical activity. Mild to moderate headache can be treated with acetaminophen or other pain killers.People who had post concussive syndrome may need long-term treatment that involves neurological as well as psychological intervention. Some people may develop Anxiety, depression, mood swing, and change in personality and sleep disturbance after concussion. If you have had multiple concussions, you should not return to sports in future. In rare cases, when a second concussion occurs before complete healing of first concussion, it can cause fatal brain swelling and lead to death.Tips for Prevention :Always wear protective gears and helmets while involved in any sports activity. Choose the right size that fits your head aptly. Safety experts recommend wearing head gear by people involved in soccer and martial arts. While riding bike wearing helmet can reduce the damage done to the brain in case of accident. Never drive your car after drinking and always wear seatbelt while driving. Educate your children about the seriousness of fall and head injury.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Concussions in Football
Concussions in Football
American football has been dealing with several controversies over brain damages suffered by players. Hundreds of former players have filed a class-action lawsuit against the National Football League, which has pushed the authorities to fund research work to identify the real cause of trouble. At the same time, helmet manufacturers are trying everything they can to protect players from concussion. The NCAA and NFL have also implemented different policies related to concussions in football. Keep reading to learn everything about it and things you can do to protect yourself.
How Do Concussions Happen?
A blow, bump, or jolt to the head can lead to a concussion, which is a type of brain injury. Concussions can also occur when something hits the body with so much force that it makes the brain to bounce around within the skull. This movement can cause severe stretching and damage the cells in the brain. After these changes, the brain becomes more vulnerable to other injuries in the future. The problem is that a concussion is not like a broken ankle that you can see and feel, but it is a disruption of how your brain works. Concussions in football are quite common and happen because of a fall or from players hitting each other with force; in fact, a ding or what feels like a small bump to the head can be quite serious.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Concussion?
You will experience different signs and symptoms if you end up deal with concussions in football. Some who has concussion will:
The most common symptoms of concussions in football include nausea, Headache, light sensitivity, dizziness, confusion, trouble concentrating and sluggishness.
What Are Dangerous Concussion Signs?
While you should see a doctor if you notice abovementioned signs and symptoms, you need immediate medical attention if you notice dangerous concussion signs such as Blood Clots in the brain. Other dangerous signs include the following:
What to Do If Concussions in Football Are Suspected?
If you are serving a football team as a coach, you need to ensure that your athletes are safe and help them understand how to prevent it. If you suspect a concussion in football, you should take the following steps:
How to Treat Concussions
Concussions in football are not always serious. Some people become normal within a few hours, while others keep experiencing symptoms for weeks or even months after the blow. It is important that you do not make any hasty decision and take your time to return to your regular activities. If you notice your symptoms coming back once you resume your sporting activity, you should stop immediately and talk to your doctor about your condition. You need to take plenty of rest to recover from a concussion. Here are some other tips that will help treat a concussion in a better way.
How to Prevent and Prepare for Concussions in Football
It is always important to take safety measures to prevent concussions. While no technique is 100% effective, it will always help minimize the impact of a blow. For instance, it is important to ask your athletes to practice heads up football. They should never lower their heads during a hit. A coach should teach athletes proper techniques to block and tackle. Players should always wear properly fitted helmets and use other protective equipment as well. They should also learn to take the right care of their protective equipment and keep it in the best condition
If you are playing in your college's football team, you should know concussion policies in your school, league, and district. It is also important to learn how to prevent these injuries and how long it usually takes to return to play. Both parents and athletes should sign the concussion policy statement after reading it thoroughly.
American football has been dealing with several controversies over brain damages suffered by players. Hundreds of former players have filed a class-action lawsuit against the National Football League, which has pushed the authorities to fund research work to identify the real cause of trouble. At the same time, helmet manufacturers are trying everything they can to protect players from concussion. The NCAA and NFL have also implemented different policies related to concussions in football. Keep reading to learn everything about it and things you can do to protect yourself.
How Do Concussions Happen?
A blow, bump, or jolt to the head can lead to a concussion, which is a type of brain injury. Concussions can also occur when something hits the body with so much force that it makes the brain to bounce around within the skull. This movement can cause severe stretching and damage the cells in the brain. After these changes, the brain becomes more vulnerable to other injuries in the future. The problem is that a concussion is not like a broken ankle that you can see and feel, but it is a disruption of how your brain works. Concussions in football are quite common and happen because of a fall or from players hitting each other with force; in fact, a ding or what feels like a small bump to the head can be quite serious.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Concussion?
You will experience different signs and symptoms if you end up deal with concussions in football. Some who has concussion will:
- Appear stunned or dazed
- Fail to recall events prior to a hit
- Forget instructions
- Answer questions slowly
- Move clumsily
- Lose consciousness
- Show personality or behavior changes
The most common symptoms of concussions in football include nausea, Headache, light sensitivity, dizziness, confusion, trouble concentrating and sluggishness.
What Are Dangerous Concussion Signs?
While you should see a doctor if you notice abovementioned signs and symptoms, you need immediate medical attention if you notice dangerous concussion signs such as Blood Clots in the brain. Other dangerous signs include the following:
- One pupil smaller than the other
- Drowsiness
- Severe headache that gets worse with time
- Slurred speech
- Numbness and weakness
- Loss of memory
- Trouble remembering people
- Confusion and unusual behavior
What to Do If Concussions in Football Are Suspected?
If you are serving a football team as a coach, you need to ensure that your athletes are safe and help them understand how to prevent it. If you suspect a concussion in football, you should take the following steps:
- Start by removing the injured athlete from play and examine him for signs of a concussion.
- Ask a healthcare professional to evaluate your athlete thoroughly.
- Be sure not to give your verdict if you are not that sure about the symptoms.
- Provide certain details to the healthcare provider, including cause of injury, force of the hit, any loss of consciousness following an injury, and any seizures. Whether the athlete lost his memory immediately after the blow.
- Be sure to consider the number of previous concussions when evaluating your athlete.
- Do not let the athlete resume the play. Keep him off at least until he has been evaluated thoroughly by a health care professional.
How to Treat Concussions
Concussions in football are not always serious. Some people become normal within a few hours, while others keep experiencing symptoms for weeks or even months after the blow. It is important that you do not make any hasty decision and take your time to return to your regular activities. If you notice your symptoms coming back once you resume your sporting activity, you should stop immediately and talk to your doctor about your condition. You need to take plenty of rest to recover from a concussion. Here are some other tips that will help treat a concussion in a better way.
- Do not use alcohol and other illicit drugs.
- Do not take part in activities that are mentally or physically demanding.
- Talk to your doctor and confirm when you are in a position to drive a car or operate heavy machinery.
- Use a cold pack if there is swelling. Apply an ice pack for only 20 minutes at a time. Be sure to place a thick cloth between your skin and the ice.
- Take pain medicine as directed by your doctor.
How to Prevent and Prepare for Concussions in Football
It is always important to take safety measures to prevent concussions. While no technique is 100% effective, it will always help minimize the impact of a blow. For instance, it is important to ask your athletes to practice heads up football. They should never lower their heads during a hit. A coach should teach athletes proper techniques to block and tackle. Players should always wear properly fitted helmets and use other protective equipment as well. They should also learn to take the right care of their protective equipment and keep it in the best condition
If you are playing in your college's football team, you should know concussion policies in your school, league, and district. It is also important to learn how to prevent these injuries and how long it usually takes to return to play. Both parents and athletes should sign the concussion policy statement after reading it thoroughly.
Do I Have a Concussion?
Do I Have a Concussion?
After a significant bump on the head, you might wonder: Do I have a concussion? A concussion is a brain injury a fall, bike or car accident, or even a fist fight. Sports activities, including football, hockey and soccer, can also lead to concussions if a blow to the head occurs. A concussion usually leaves no visible sign of injury; however, it is still a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. It is very important to see a medical professional in the aftermath of a hard blow to the head, even if you feel fine initially.
Do You Have a Concussion?
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. The damage to the head is often very subtle at first and takes some time to show more overt symptoms.
Concussions often cause Headache and dizziness which usually go away within several days. But about five percent of people who have a concussion will have a blood clot of bleeding on the brain, which is a very serious and even life-threatening.
When you suspect "Do I have a concussion", check your symptoms from the four main categories:
When to See a Doctor
“Do I have a concussion?” If you have to ask this, it’s time to call your doctor. The following symptoms mean you should seek emergency treatment right away:
Remember that concussions might also come with injuries to the spine. Avoid moving the neck and back when someone has a concussion and call an ambulance instead.
Tests to Tell If You Have a Concussion
The doctor will first evaluate your signs and symptoms and review your medical history.If a concussion is expected, you will undergo a series of tests to determine what’s wrong.
1. Neurological Test
This evaluation includes a thorough check of your hearing, vision, balance, coordination, reflexes, strength and sensation.
2. Cognitive Test
These tests will focus on how well your brain is working, including memory tests, concentration, and the ability to recall information that was given to you at an earlier time.
3. Imaging Test
A CT scan of the brain can be helpful in providing the images of your brain and skull after a serious injury. An MRI can diagnose bleeding and other issues.
4. Observation
In most cases, the doctor will keep you overnight in the hospital for observation. If you want to be observed at home you will need someone to watch you for at least the first 24 hours after the injury occurred.
How to Treat a Concussion
When the answer to "Do I have a concussion?" is positive, it is time to seek medical treatment. Treatment for a concussion is based on your particular symptoms. Most concussions do not require invasive treatment; instead, you will be closely observed and awakened every two or three hours to ensure that you do not go into a coma. Your behavior will be carefully monitored for any abnormal signs.
Headaches can be treated with acetaminophen. Avoid ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and aspirin because they can increase the risk of bleeding. You will be asked to rest and avoid any activities that might lead to another blow on the head (such as playing sports). Depending upon the severity, you might even be asked to avoid driving or riding a bike. Alcohol should also be inhibited.
How Can You Prevent a Concussion?
Prevention Guidelines for Adults
Prevention Guidelines for Children
After a significant bump on the head, you might wonder: Do I have a concussion? A concussion is a brain injury a fall, bike or car accident, or even a fist fight. Sports activities, including football, hockey and soccer, can also lead to concussions if a blow to the head occurs. A concussion usually leaves no visible sign of injury; however, it is still a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. It is very important to see a medical professional in the aftermath of a hard blow to the head, even if you feel fine initially.
Do You Have a Concussion?
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. The damage to the head is often very subtle at first and takes some time to show more overt symptoms.
Concussions often cause Headache and dizziness which usually go away within several days. But about five percent of people who have a concussion will have a blood clot of bleeding on the brain, which is a very serious and even life-threatening.
When you suspect "Do I have a concussion", check your symptoms from the four main categories:
When to See a Doctor
“Do I have a concussion?” If you have to ask this, it’s time to call your doctor. The following symptoms mean you should seek emergency treatment right away:
- ŸLoss of consciousness, even for only a moment
- ŸAmnesia or no memory of the event
- ŸSeizures
- ŸPupils of unequal size
- Abnormal eye movements
- ŸBlood or clear fluid coming from the nose or ears
- Confusion
- ŸVomiting
- ŸSlurred speech
- ŸMuscle weakness
- Problems with walking or Unsteady Gait
- For a child under the age of two, scalp swelling and any changes in the way they usually behave warrants emergency treatment.
Remember that concussions might also come with injuries to the spine. Avoid moving the neck and back when someone has a concussion and call an ambulance instead.
Tests to Tell If You Have a Concussion
The doctor will first evaluate your signs and symptoms and review your medical history.If a concussion is expected, you will undergo a series of tests to determine what’s wrong.
1. Neurological Test
This evaluation includes a thorough check of your hearing, vision, balance, coordination, reflexes, strength and sensation.
2. Cognitive Test
These tests will focus on how well your brain is working, including memory tests, concentration, and the ability to recall information that was given to you at an earlier time.
3. Imaging Test
A CT scan of the brain can be helpful in providing the images of your brain and skull after a serious injury. An MRI can diagnose bleeding and other issues.
4. Observation
In most cases, the doctor will keep you overnight in the hospital for observation. If you want to be observed at home you will need someone to watch you for at least the first 24 hours after the injury occurred.
How to Treat a Concussion
When the answer to "Do I have a concussion?" is positive, it is time to seek medical treatment. Treatment for a concussion is based on your particular symptoms. Most concussions do not require invasive treatment; instead, you will be closely observed and awakened every two or three hours to ensure that you do not go into a coma. Your behavior will be carefully monitored for any abnormal signs.
Headaches can be treated with acetaminophen. Avoid ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and aspirin because they can increase the risk of bleeding. You will be asked to rest and avoid any activities that might lead to another blow on the head (such as playing sports). Depending upon the severity, you might even be asked to avoid driving or riding a bike. Alcohol should also be inhibited.
How Can You Prevent a Concussion?
Prevention Guidelines for Adults
- ŸAlways wear a seatbelt.
- Always wear a helmet when playing sports such as football, hockey or baseball; use a helmet when riding a bike or ATV, when skiing or snowboarding, or when riding a horse.
- Make your home a safer place by removing items that might cause falls, such as loose carpeting.
- Never, ever drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Prevention Guidelines for Children
- Always use child car seats and booster seats.
- Teach your child playground safety, as well as safety around vehicles.
- Invest in well-fitting helmets tailored to those activities.
- Take steps to keep your child safe from falls in the home.
What to Do After a Concussion
What to Do After a Concussion
A concussion is the most common type of head injury. This can result from several accidents, including sports injuries and car crashes. The good thing is that concussions are only temporary and will not leave lasting damage unless it is not treated promptly.Learn what you can do after a concussion to avoid complications.
What to Do After a Concussion
1. Avoid Your Triggers
Triggers are all those activities that can produce or increase pre-existing symptoms. Each person has different triggers, and it is important to be aware of yours so that you can recover and find solutions more quickly.
2. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is not just for our bodies, but our brains, too. Sleep is especially important if you have suffered from concussions because you tend to feel more tired after doing simple, basic tasks. If you have suffered from a concussion, allow yourself a few short naps 30-60 minutes long. Be careful not to nap too much, or your sleep cycle at night might be affected. Minimize exposure to gadgets or the TV so you can fall asleep more quickly.
3. Rest Your Brain
This is an important example of what to do after a concussion. Don't try to think too hard, read too much, or study for too long right after getting out of a concussion. This is not only difficult to do, but might be frustrating and just add to your Stress levels. If you simply must do some work, make sure to schedule it so you have frequent, evenly-spaced breaks.
4. Rest Your Body
As tempting as it might be to return to sports and be active, doing so will cause your heart rate to increase to an unhealthy level, making your symptoms worse and prolonging your recovery. Wait for your doctor to give you the go signal before you try anything.
5. Know What to Avoid
Concussion patients need to limit their activity to keep their stress levels down and avoid making their brains too tired.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Help
The symptoms for a more serious brain injury than just a concussion may be delayed a few hours or even days after the accident takes place. Therefore, an important part of what to do after a concussion is to monitor yourself and check if your symptoms are suggestive of a more serious injury. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
When to Return to Work or School
Consult your doctor to see whether you are really fit to go back to your regular routines. Common signs of improvement include loss of symptoms, recovery of all memory and concentration skills, and the ability to do physical activity without feeling too exhausted afterwards. Still, once you are given the go signal, don't try to tire yourself out too much by going all at once. Ease back into it slowly so you can adjust better.
National sporting federations and organizations advocate a step-wise approach, in which the patient will need to go through all the stages before getting the clearance to go back to full-time training and practice. Once the patient declares he is free of symptoms, he can resume a low level of activity; after a few days without recurring symptoms, he can step up the intensity a bit more, and so on until he is eventually able to go back to playing full-time.
Another conference in 2013 suggested the following steps for what to do after a concussion for athletes:
Rest totallyfor at least 24 hours to let the symptoms pass.
Avoid all activity that has anything to do with the head.
No contact training–for example, football passing drills.
If you have no lingering symptoms, it should be fairly easy to go back to playing after just a week. However, if your symptoms start acting up again, just step your exercises down a notch, monitor again for more symptoms and then try the next level again after the coast is clear.
How to Prevent Concussion After Recovery
To keep yourself from regressing, another part of what to do after a concussion is to make sure that it doesn't happen again. This can be as easy asfollowing safety precautions and rules. For instance:
A concussion is the most common type of head injury. This can result from several accidents, including sports injuries and car crashes. The good thing is that concussions are only temporary and will not leave lasting damage unless it is not treated promptly.Learn what you can do after a concussion to avoid complications.
What to Do After a Concussion
1. Avoid Your Triggers
Triggers are all those activities that can produce or increase pre-existing symptoms. Each person has different triggers, and it is important to be aware of yours so that you can recover and find solutions more quickly.
2. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is not just for our bodies, but our brains, too. Sleep is especially important if you have suffered from concussions because you tend to feel more tired after doing simple, basic tasks. If you have suffered from a concussion, allow yourself a few short naps 30-60 minutes long. Be careful not to nap too much, or your sleep cycle at night might be affected. Minimize exposure to gadgets or the TV so you can fall asleep more quickly.
3. Rest Your Brain
This is an important example of what to do after a concussion. Don't try to think too hard, read too much, or study for too long right after getting out of a concussion. This is not only difficult to do, but might be frustrating and just add to your Stress levels. If you simply must do some work, make sure to schedule it so you have frequent, evenly-spaced breaks.
4. Rest Your Body
As tempting as it might be to return to sports and be active, doing so will cause your heart rate to increase to an unhealthy level, making your symptoms worse and prolonging your recovery. Wait for your doctor to give you the go signal before you try anything.
5. Know What to Avoid
Concussion patients need to limit their activity to keep their stress levels down and avoid making their brains too tired.
- Avoid driving for at least 24 hours after the injury. Your reaction time will be slower, which can be dangerous on the road and will double your risks of encountering yet another accident.
- Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages until you are well enough.
- Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain. These will increase your risk of bleeding internally.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Help
The symptoms for a more serious brain injury than just a concussion may be delayed a few hours or even days after the accident takes place. Therefore, an important part of what to do after a concussion is to monitor yourself and check if your symptoms are suggestive of a more serious injury. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Seizures
- Loss of balance
- Sudden deafness
- Eyesight problems
- Persistent Headaches
- Vomiting and nausea
- Weakness in both arms
- Bleeding from either ear
- Trouble staying fully conscious
- Mental confusion and forgetfulness
- Difficulty speaking and understanding others
- Secretion from the ears and nose
- Drowsiness that lasts more than an hour
When to Return to Work or School
Consult your doctor to see whether you are really fit to go back to your regular routines. Common signs of improvement include loss of symptoms, recovery of all memory and concentration skills, and the ability to do physical activity without feeling too exhausted afterwards. Still, once you are given the go signal, don't try to tire yourself out too much by going all at once. Ease back into it slowly so you can adjust better.
- What About Going Back to Sports?
National sporting federations and organizations advocate a step-wise approach, in which the patient will need to go through all the stages before getting the clearance to go back to full-time training and practice. Once the patient declares he is free of symptoms, he can resume a low level of activity; after a few days without recurring symptoms, he can step up the intensity a bit more, and so on until he is eventually able to go back to playing full-time.
Another conference in 2013 suggested the following steps for what to do after a concussion for athletes:
If you have no lingering symptoms, it should be fairly easy to go back to playing after just a week. However, if your symptoms start acting up again, just step your exercises down a notch, monitor again for more symptoms and then try the next level again after the coast is clear.
How to Prevent Concussion After Recovery
To keep yourself from regressing, another part of what to do after a concussion is to make sure that it doesn't happen again. This can be as easy asfollowing safety precautions and rules. For instance:
- Wear your seat belt in the car.
- Follow rules when you play: no head butting.
- Wear a proper helmet whether you're riding a bike, scooter, skis, or any other transportation.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Baby Concussion
Baby Concussion
A concussion is an internal injury to the brain where no external injury occurred. Because a child’s body is so much smaller, the effects of a concussion are more severe. A fall, hard bump to the head, tossing onto a mattress or rough shaking can injure the brain and change the way it works. Problems balancing, vision issues and remembering simple directions or loss of consciousness may occur following the event. In most cases, these effects are temporary lasting only a few minutes. You need to know what the symptoms for baby concussion are and how you should respond. Symptoms of Baby Concussion
Infants, toddlers and young children have a limited ability to tell you how they feel. It’s important to recognize the following clues that indicate an invisible injury occurred:
When Should I Call 911?
Immediately call 911 any time that your baby or toddler bumps his head, falls or is shaken even in play if he/she:
Notes and Warnings
Concussions can have long-term effects on cognitive abilities. Take a concussion seriously at all times. How to Diagnose Baby Concussion
When young children are involved, diagnosing a concussion involves gathering the facts from the parents and doing a physical exam. The doctor will test reflexes and responses, balance and coordination as well as eyes and breathing. The child’s range of motion in the head and neck as well as eye movement will be noted. Combining all the response tests, reflex actions and range of motion with the child’s history and the details of the immediate event will help the doctor determine if a concussion has occurred. There is no test for concussion. CT scans and MRIs are unable to “see” a concussion but it does show if there is any bleeding in the brain. A physician may recommend a CT scan if the following symptoms are present:
How to Recover from Concussion
It can take 3 days to as much as 3 weeks for a toddler or infant to recover from a concussion according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The length of time depends on the severity of the concussion. According the report in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics [January 2014], recovery is hindered by unlimited physical and mental activity. For a small child, activities such as playing with toys, watching television, listening to music, coloring or reading/being read a book should be minimal to moderate. Engaging in any of these activities for 5 – 10 minutes is the maximum for any individual activity. In the first 3 – 5 days, as much activity as possible should be avoided. For many parents, this means removing the child from the day care or any interaction with other children to avoid the possibility of additional injury. During this period, pay attention to any continuing or new symptoms that may develop. It is not unusual for additional symptoms to show up as much as two weeks after the event. Always return for the follow-up visit. Just because there are no remaining symptoms of the concussion does not mean that the reflexes or responses are back to normal. Some symptoms are only detected by trained healthcare providers. How to Prevent Baby Concussion
The following concussion prevention tips come from the Brain Injury Association of Arizona.
A concussion is an internal injury to the brain where no external injury occurred. Because a child’s body is so much smaller, the effects of a concussion are more severe. A fall, hard bump to the head, tossing onto a mattress or rough shaking can injure the brain and change the way it works. Problems balancing, vision issues and remembering simple directions or loss of consciousness may occur following the event. In most cases, these effects are temporary lasting only a few minutes. You need to know what the symptoms for baby concussion are and how you should respond. Symptoms of Baby Concussion
Infants, toddlers and young children have a limited ability to tell you how they feel. It’s important to recognize the following clues that indicate an invisible injury occurred:
- Loss of consciousness
- Unusual fuzziness where nothing you do solves the problem
- Disinterest in favorite toys or games
- Confusion – sometimes assumed to be stubborn rebellion, when it is unusual behavior it may be that the child is unable to figure out what you are saying or want him/her to do
- Dazed – looks at you and surroundings with a blank expression
- Tires much more easily than normal, wants to lie down at inappropriate times or places
- Dizziness – may appear as loss of balance when sitting, walking or standing
- Odd lack of coordination – unable to hold toys, tips cups over when reaching to grab them, inability to go forward or backward
- Changes in eating and sleeping – any unusual changes for no apparent reason that cannot be resolved normally
- Abnormally slow responses to games, directions, questions and sounds
- Changes in behavior of any kind that is unusual
- Repeated vomiting – when he is not sick
When Should I Call 911?
Immediately call 911 any time that your baby or toddler bumps his head, falls or is shaken even in play if he/she:
- Loses consciousness
- Begins Twitching or jerking
- Appears not to recognize you or his toys
- Will not wake up after a nap
- Vomits more for no apparent reason
- Complains of a tingling or tickly feel in arms or legs
- Remains groggy, listless or confused for more than 15 - 20-minutes
- Sounds or acts like he is drunk, slurring speech, wobbly walk, tilts over in chair
- Spontaneous fluid appears from nose or ears
Notes and Warnings
- If immediate symptoms of concussion disappear only to reappear over the next several days, it is essential to have your pediatrician check out your child.
- If any of these symptoms continue after the first day of recovery, report it to your pediatrician immediately.
Concussions can have long-term effects on cognitive abilities. Take a concussion seriously at all times. How to Diagnose Baby Concussion
When young children are involved, diagnosing a concussion involves gathering the facts from the parents and doing a physical exam. The doctor will test reflexes and responses, balance and coordination as well as eyes and breathing. The child’s range of motion in the head and neck as well as eye movement will be noted. Combining all the response tests, reflex actions and range of motion with the child’s history and the details of the immediate event will help the doctor determine if a concussion has occurred. There is no test for concussion. CT scans and MRIs are unable to “see” a concussion but it does show if there is any bleeding in the brain. A physician may recommend a CT scan if the following symptoms are present:
- Loss of consciousness lasted more than 5 minutes
- Repeated vomiting following event
- Twitching or seizure type movements
- Fall occurred from a relatively high point - chair, couch or crib
- Hit by a fast moving object – a hard toy or ball
- Infants with any signs of injury to the head or skull area
- Neurological symptoms showing up during exam
How to Recover from Concussion
It can take 3 days to as much as 3 weeks for a toddler or infant to recover from a concussion according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The length of time depends on the severity of the concussion. According the report in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics [January 2014], recovery is hindered by unlimited physical and mental activity. For a small child, activities such as playing with toys, watching television, listening to music, coloring or reading/being read a book should be minimal to moderate. Engaging in any of these activities for 5 – 10 minutes is the maximum for any individual activity. In the first 3 – 5 days, as much activity as possible should be avoided. For many parents, this means removing the child from the day care or any interaction with other children to avoid the possibility of additional injury. During this period, pay attention to any continuing or new symptoms that may develop. It is not unusual for additional symptoms to show up as much as two weeks after the event. Always return for the follow-up visit. Just because there are no remaining symptoms of the concussion does not mean that the reflexes or responses are back to normal. Some symptoms are only detected by trained healthcare providers. How to Prevent Baby Concussion
The following concussion prevention tips come from the Brain Injury Association of Arizona.
- Use the correct car safety seat for your child
- Make sure that outside play surfaces are covered by rubber or other cushioning materials
- Insist that your child wear a helmet when riding on anything with wheels and for all sports
- Reduce any chances that your infant/ toddler might fall
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Concussion
Concussion
A concussion is a sudden brain injury that occurs due to trauma, motor accidents or fall. Any blow to the head can easily affect the brain and alter the way it functions. Sudden Headache, confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, loss of balance and poor concentration are some of the common symptoms of concussion. Concussions occur commonly in athletes and many times they don’t realize it immediately since it may not cause confusion or any sudden changes immediately after injury. Any injury caused to the brain needs some time for healing. Concussions that occur after trauma are sometimes mild and hence recovery is full in such cases.
In medical terms, concussion can be defined as change in brain function, change in mental status that develop due to sudden trauma or blow to the head. All people having concussions will not lose consciousness. Concussions may vary from mild to severe and can affect your memory and judgment skills. According to neuro experts, any concussion should not be taken as mild.
In the USA alone, about 19% of sports personalities suffer from concussion each year during play. During college events, it is estimated 32-34% of players have had at least one concussion and 20% have had multiple concussions. An athlete who had one concussion would have second/multiple concussions very likely. Wearing protective headgear or helmets can help in preventing serious injury to the head.
Symptoms :
For some people signs and symptoms does not occur immediately after trauma or fall and can be subtle. Some of the common symptoms of concussion are headache, amnesia, confusion, loss of memory and balance, poor concentration, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech and Ringing in Ears. Some people appear dazed for few seconds after a fall or head injury and recover within minutes.
For many people, symptoms are delayed by hours or even days or weeks after injury. Such signs of concussions include irritability, poor concentration, poor memory, disturbed sleep, light/noise sensitivity and psychological problems like Depression. Infants and young children may not be able to tell what they feel. In such cases, parents can check for clues like irritability, excessive crying, appearing dazed, loss of balance and change in eating and sleeping patterns.
How does this happen?
Your brain is fully protected by the skull from any type of trauma or injury. Brain is enveloped by special liquid called cerebrospinal fluid which provides cushioning effect. However any abrupt blow or fall with violet force can seriously affect the brain resulting in tearing of blood vessels and nerve fibers. Sometimes, head injury can cause microscopic damage to the brain cells that may not be visible even by CT scan. The tissues of the brain can develop swelling and compress the brain and its substance thus affecting the normal blood flow. In severe cases the brain becomes deprived of oxygenated blood and can cause Stroke.
Any fracture to the skull can also affect the brain substance causing inflammation and bleeding. Seek immediate medical treatment if you have symptoms like motor dysfunction (impaired motor function), severe pain (headache), impaired cognitive function (difficulty in concentrating, confusion, disorientation etc) and slurred speech. These are serious symptoms that need to be treated at once.
Causes :
Sudden injury to the head like fall or violent force can cause concussion. The brain substance will suffer a jerk movement back and forth and bombard against the walls of the skull during violent blow to the head. Motor accidents, sudden fall and head injury during sports events are the major causes of concussion.
Who are at risk?
Sportsperson who have had previous concussions, getting involved in contact sports like football or hockey, being a victim of bike accident and soldiers who are combating the nation are at high risk of developing concussion. Some concussions can cause complications like Epilepsy, disability of mental function, post concussion syndrome and severe headaches.
Diagnosis :
Your doctor will hear from you about sudden blow or injury to the head and evaluate your vision, hearing ability, balance and other sensation. He may ask you few questions to judge your memory and your ability to retrieve information. He may order for imaging tests like CT scan, brain X-ray or MRI scanning. Various other tests may also be done depending on the condition of the patient.
Treatment :
The mode of treatment varies according to the stability of the patient who suffered a concussion. Taking complete rest can improve most of the symptoms if the blow is mild. You can take leave for few days from school or office and not involved in any type of vigorous physical activity. Mild to moderate headache can be treated with acetaminophen or other pain killers.
People who had post concussive syndrome may need long-term treatment that involves neurological as well as psychological intervention. Some people may develop anxiety, depression, mood swing, and change in personality and sleep disturbance after concussion. If you have had multiple concussions, you should not return to sports in future. In rare cases, when a second concussion occurs before complete healing of first concussion, it can cause fatal brain swelling and lead to death.
Tips for Prevention :
Always wear protective gears and helmets while involved in any sports activity. Choose the right size that fits your head aptly. Safety experts recommend wearing head gear by people involved in soccer and martial arts. While riding bike wearing helmet can reduce the damage done to the brain in case of accident. Never drive your car after drinking and always wear seatbelt while driving. Educate your children about the seriousness of fall and head injury.
A concussion is a sudden brain injury that occurs due to trauma, motor accidents or fall. Any blow to the head can easily affect the brain and alter the way it functions. Sudden Headache, confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, loss of balance and poor concentration are some of the common symptoms of concussion. Concussions occur commonly in athletes and many times they don’t realize it immediately since it may not cause confusion or any sudden changes immediately after injury. Any injury caused to the brain needs some time for healing. Concussions that occur after trauma are sometimes mild and hence recovery is full in such cases.
In medical terms, concussion can be defined as change in brain function, change in mental status that develop due to sudden trauma or blow to the head. All people having concussions will not lose consciousness. Concussions may vary from mild to severe and can affect your memory and judgment skills. According to neuro experts, any concussion should not be taken as mild.
In the USA alone, about 19% of sports personalities suffer from concussion each year during play. During college events, it is estimated 32-34% of players have had at least one concussion and 20% have had multiple concussions. An athlete who had one concussion would have second/multiple concussions very likely. Wearing protective headgear or helmets can help in preventing serious injury to the head.
Symptoms :
For some people signs and symptoms does not occur immediately after trauma or fall and can be subtle. Some of the common symptoms of concussion are headache, amnesia, confusion, loss of memory and balance, poor concentration, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech and Ringing in Ears. Some people appear dazed for few seconds after a fall or head injury and recover within minutes.
For many people, symptoms are delayed by hours or even days or weeks after injury. Such signs of concussions include irritability, poor concentration, poor memory, disturbed sleep, light/noise sensitivity and psychological problems like Depression. Infants and young children may not be able to tell what they feel. In such cases, parents can check for clues like irritability, excessive crying, appearing dazed, loss of balance and change in eating and sleeping patterns.
How does this happen?
Your brain is fully protected by the skull from any type of trauma or injury. Brain is enveloped by special liquid called cerebrospinal fluid which provides cushioning effect. However any abrupt blow or fall with violet force can seriously affect the brain resulting in tearing of blood vessels and nerve fibers. Sometimes, head injury can cause microscopic damage to the brain cells that may not be visible even by CT scan. The tissues of the brain can develop swelling and compress the brain and its substance thus affecting the normal blood flow. In severe cases the brain becomes deprived of oxygenated blood and can cause Stroke.
Any fracture to the skull can also affect the brain substance causing inflammation and bleeding. Seek immediate medical treatment if you have symptoms like motor dysfunction (impaired motor function), severe pain (headache), impaired cognitive function (difficulty in concentrating, confusion, disorientation etc) and slurred speech. These are serious symptoms that need to be treated at once.
Causes :
Sudden injury to the head like fall or violent force can cause concussion. The brain substance will suffer a jerk movement back and forth and bombard against the walls of the skull during violent blow to the head. Motor accidents, sudden fall and head injury during sports events are the major causes of concussion.
Who are at risk?
Sportsperson who have had previous concussions, getting involved in contact sports like football or hockey, being a victim of bike accident and soldiers who are combating the nation are at high risk of developing concussion. Some concussions can cause complications like Epilepsy, disability of mental function, post concussion syndrome and severe headaches.
Diagnosis :
Your doctor will hear from you about sudden blow or injury to the head and evaluate your vision, hearing ability, balance and other sensation. He may ask you few questions to judge your memory and your ability to retrieve information. He may order for imaging tests like CT scan, brain X-ray or MRI scanning. Various other tests may also be done depending on the condition of the patient.
Treatment :
The mode of treatment varies according to the stability of the patient who suffered a concussion. Taking complete rest can improve most of the symptoms if the blow is mild. You can take leave for few days from school or office and not involved in any type of vigorous physical activity. Mild to moderate headache can be treated with acetaminophen or other pain killers.
People who had post concussive syndrome may need long-term treatment that involves neurological as well as psychological intervention. Some people may develop anxiety, depression, mood swing, and change in personality and sleep disturbance after concussion. If you have had multiple concussions, you should not return to sports in future. In rare cases, when a second concussion occurs before complete healing of first concussion, it can cause fatal brain swelling and lead to death.
Tips for Prevention :
Always wear protective gears and helmets while involved in any sports activity. Choose the right size that fits your head aptly. Safety experts recommend wearing head gear by people involved in soccer and martial arts. While riding bike wearing helmet can reduce the damage done to the brain in case of accident. Never drive your car after drinking and always wear seatbelt while driving. Educate your children about the seriousness of fall and head injury.
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