What is a concussion?

LIFESTYLE NEWS - A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). It can occur after an impact to your head or after a whiplash-type injury that causes your head and brain to shake quickly back and forth. A concussion results in an altered mental state that may include becoming unconscious.

Concussions are usually not life-threatening, but they can cause serious symptoms that require medical treatment. Symptoms of a concussion vary depending on both the severity of the injury and the person injured. It's not true that a loss of consciousness always occurs with a concussion.

It's important to understand the symptoms you could experience yourself when you're having a concussion, as well as the signs of someone else having a concussion.

The signs of a concussion may include:

memory problems
confusion
drowsiness or feeling sluggish
dizziness
double vision or blurred vision
headache
nausea or vomiting
sensitivity to light or noise
balance problems
slowed reaction to stimuli

The symptoms may begin immediately, or they may not develop for hours, days, weeks, or even months following your injury.

During the recovery period after a concussion, you may experience the following symptoms:

irritability
sensitivity to light or noise
difficulty concentrating
mild headaches
In some cases, a friend or loved one might have a concussion, and not know it. The following are some of the signs to look out for:
irritability
balance issues
loss of coordination
problems walking
seizures
draining of blood or clear fluid from the ears or nose
unequal pupil size
abnormal eye movement
lasting confusion
slurred speech
repeated vomiting
brief loss of consciousness after the injury
an inability to wake up (also called a coma)