{"id":1916,"date":"2018-07-14T08:29:06","date_gmt":"2018-07-14T08:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1916"},"modified":"2021-05-18T15:15:06","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T15:15:06","slug":"12-serious-concussion-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/12-serious-concussion-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Serious Concussion Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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According to statistics from the CDC, about 4 to 5 million concussions happen every year, with the numbers going up amongst especially athletes and careers that are at a high-risk, such as construction workers or professional athletes. There have also been increasing numbers of concussions that have happened amongst high school sports players, too, leading to a growing amount of concern for teachers, teens and parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you or someone you know are ever at risk of ending up with a concussion, then you should know how to spot the symptoms and how to treat them until medical attention can be reached: Concussions are a very serious condition, and approximately 5.3 million Americans live with brain injuries that are permanent as a result. Here are 12 serious concussion symptoms to look out for as a red flag that you need to get to immediate medical attention. Could you spot the signs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Memory Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first symptoms that you might have a concussion is memory loss<\/a>, usually specifically related to your short-term memory \u2013 and the memories around the time of your injury. Memory loss may or may not accompany a loss of consciousness, and it can last for a few minutes to a few weeks; sometimes even longer if we\u2019re talking about a more severe brain injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In extreme cases, the damage incurred to the brain can be permanent \u2013 though, of course, this is not necessarily the case, as very few cases of concussions are this severe. With any form of memory loss, it is advised to get yourself or the patient in question to medical attention as soon as possible. This is best to assess the damage and to start the necessary treatment as soon as possible before permanent damage to the brain is incurred. Confusion is also another symptom associated with concussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Tinnitus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tinnitus <\/a>is a condition that affects the ears, and is more often than not referred to simply as a ringing sound or sensation in the ears. This can occur right after a concussion, or right after serious hearing damage through a loud sound that is too much for the eardrums to handle. The tinnitus usually goes away over time, and doesn\u2019t need any treatment to do so \u2013 except staying away from loud noises and reducing exposure to sound, many times by wearing earplugs for a few days to weeks until the condition gets better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, the condition of tinnitus can be permanent \u2013 and you will experience a loss of hearing to the specific frequency of the ringing. The patient might also experience a severe sensitivity to sound along with the condition after a concussion has been experienced. If you are experiencing tinnitus for any other reasons, make an appointment with your doctor to find the root cause of what has been causing the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Brain Fog and Confusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might not experience a condition as severe as amnesia or memory loss after your concussion, but you will almost certainly experience some degree of brain fog<\/a> and confusion after the event. After any event traumatic to the brain, this can be considered to be normal. This can be as slight as some memory loss where you simply forget a word, forget what the time is or keep forgetting where you put your keys; it can also be more severe, and leave someone unable to recall their own name for some time after the event has occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brain fog is normal, though you should get someone to immediate emergency medical attention if the brain fog does not go away, or if the confusion is particularly severe and bordering on memory loss. If there is any bleeding on the brain, then treatment will be needed as soon as possible to halt the bleeding and aid the patient\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Distortion of Vision<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are experiencing a concussion<\/a>, then you will almost certainly experience some distortion of vision along with the event: Usually this is the stereotypical \u201cseeing stars\u201d that you see in cartoons where birds are flying around the head of the injured. Yes, it can feel a lot like this. You might experience the distortion of vision in the form of seeing stars or spots, and it might go along with ringing of the ears or be a symptom by itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is dependent on each individual case. Sometimes seeing stars will be down to a direct eye injury, and other times it will be due to a blood pressure drop experienced because of the shock that surrounds the event. If this is the case, then the patient will need immediate medical attention to stop from going into full-on shock, and to make sure that the damage to the eyes is not permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important signs of a concussion and what the doctor or emergency response personnel will look for when they are diagnosing the condition is the fact that there is a marked difference in how the eyes are responding to light: Pay attention to the pupils. If one is a different size than the other one, then you almost certainly are dealing with a case of a concussion. Then, pay attention to how the pupils are in turn responding to light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If one responds to light and the other one does not, or they respond to light differently than they normally would (or sometimes not at all), then you have another warning sign that could potentially signal a concussion. If you are experiencing any of these signs after a traumatic brain injury<\/a>, then you should get to immediate medical attention immediately \u2013 not doing so could make the condition much more dangerous for your long-term recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Changes in Mood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, a traumatic brain injury after a concussion can also trigger other changes that are not only related to physical changes, but instead chemical changes that are taking place within the brain. When the brain has been injured, some of the neurons <\/a>aren\u2019t firing off as they should \u2013 this leads to some of the symptoms that we have already mentioned in this article before, including brain fog and memory loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also lead to other symptoms that include changes in your mood \u2013 and after a concussion, someone can easily switch over to feeling confused, irritable or angry for no reason. This effect can even stick around for a few weeks to months after the brain injury has occurred, or be permanent if the injury caused severe injuries to the brain resulting in lesions. Changes in mood, for most concussions, are temporary and will eventually go away as the injuries to the brain subsides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Light Sensitivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The changes experienced to the eyes if you have been through a concussion is not the only symptom that you might experience after a concussion has taken place; you might also experience some severe sensitivity to light for a while after your concussion has taken place. The sensitivity <\/a>to light can go along with some of the symptoms we\u2019ve mentioned related to the eyes, it can also make someone more irritable and in pain when they are exposed to light \u2013 it can also make the headache they are already feeling because of the injury to the brain feel much more severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the best is to give someone who has been through a concussion something to cover their eyes with, or sunglasses until the symptom disappears. Concussions are severe, and you should visit your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms in combination with one another, or if the symptoms are particularly severe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Fainting Spells<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to statistics from the CDC, only about 10% of concussions happen with a loss of consciousness at the same time as the event; this means that 90% of concussions do not, but this does not mean that you are automatically out of the way of danger. If you have experienced any amount of loss of consciousness with a brain injury or concussion, this could mean that the condition is much more severe than you at first thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need immediate medical attention if this is the case. It is true that you should not let someone with a potential concussion fall asleep, as this can lead to more damage being incurred \u2013 get someone who is feeling at all spaced or sleepy <\/a>to the emergency room if they have experienced a concussion or show several of the symptoms that have been mentioned on this list at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Headaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Headaches <\/a>are common with concussions and brain injuries; the severity of the headache will depend on the severity of the concussion and the brain injury. While it\u2019s an expected symptom that most people with experience, you should not take the symptom of a headache after a concussion lightly: It can still be one of the most serious symptoms related to a concussion, and point to the fact that there is something much more severe wrong with the body than you first thought \u2013 this could even point to bleeding on the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why doctors often recommend a series of brain scans after a traumatic brain injury or an event like a concussion has occurred \u2013 and you should get to medical attention for this as soon as possible if you have been injured so that the doctor can ensure the damage is not permanent. Your doctor will recommend the best course of treatment forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Nausea and Vomiting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the symptoms of a concussion that are also extremely common is some nausea and vomiting <\/a>that is often combined with many (if not most) of the symptoms that we\u2019ve already mentioned in this article. This is a symptom that happens to everyone who might have had a concussion, but one that you should take extremely seriously: If the vomiting continues then it could mean that the brain injury is extremely severe, and that you are on your way to serious danger zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one symptom for which it\u2019s much better to go straight to the emergency room, especially if the symptom doesn\u2019t go away by itself. Repeated vomiting can also increase the amount of pressure that\u2019s being felt on the brain, and can even rupture small arteries or heighten the blood pressure beyond safe levels. Take note of any symptoms and mention all of them to the doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Feeling Tired<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might also notice that someone who has gone through a concussion will feel unusually sleepy or tired <\/a>after the event, and this might last a few minutes to a few days. It\u2019s important not to let someone fall asleep immediately after a brain injury \u2013 this is dangerous, and you could do more damage if you let someone fall asleep or lose consciousness before the damage has been properly assessed by a medical professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we\u2019ve already said this a few times during the scope of this article, but you should always ensure that you get to medical attention as soon as possible after such an event has occurred, especially if you show several of the symptoms that we\u2019ve mentioned in this article at the same time. If the injury in question is severe and you have not gotten the appropriate medical attention, then you risk the damage being permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Nerve Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t the complete list of symptoms that concussions can cause: There are still more. We\u2019ve already explained that brain injuries and concussions have the potential to cause a whole range of unpleasant symptoms <\/a>related to your health \u2013 and that you should keep a particularly close eye on someone\u2019s symptoms as they develop so you have a clear idea of the scope of what should be mentioned to medical attention when you are able to reach a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the other symptoms that are not as common with concussions is inexplicable nerve pain \u2013 this is because the nerves are firing wrong, and because the brain might still be getting used to recovering after the concussion has occurred. In severe brain injuries, the damage could also be permanent. Again, you should get to medical attention as soon as the event has occurred \u2013 and try not to treat the condition of a concussion yourself: It could be highly dangerous to your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Disturbed Sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While most concussions lead to the affected individual wanting to fall asleep, these symptoms typically subside after the first 24-hours. However, severe brain trauma induced by the impact can leave a lasting mTBI injury on the brain. Lesions can affect regular brain activity, and disturb sleeping patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the affected individual may find it difficult to fall asleep, tossing and turning for hours before their brain decides to shut down for the night. We require sleep to clear the neural pathways of toxins <\/a>built up during the day. Not getting enough sleep at night plays a significant role in mood disorders, causing the affected individual to have wild swings in their mood throughout the day. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experienced head trauma that led to a concussion, and you\u2019re having trouble falling asleep, or find that you wake up periodically during the night, you could have an mTBI. Make an appointment with your physician for an MRI scan.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Changes in Smell and Taste<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Severe brain trauma that occurs as a result of a concussion can impact your sense of taste and smell as well. The brain processes thousands of chemicals <\/a>every second, and a concussion can disturb normal brain function, leading to changes in smell and taste.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some individuals may notice they develop an aversion to the smell of foods they used to enjoy, and they may also find that some tastes now seem disgusting. As a result, affected individuals may try to avoid going to restaurants or public spaces where food is cooking. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom of concussion can be permanent in some cases, and affected individuals may be suffering from lesions on the brain affecting neurological processes. If you notice that smells or food you used to enjoy, no longer appeal to you, it could be the warning sign of an mTBI. Please consult with your doctor. They will run an MRI or CT scan to look for lesions on your brain.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Extreme Changes to Personality and Skills<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, receiving a concussion or brain trauma can change your entire life. There are countless stories of people who have experienced an mTBI, and suddenly developed new skills they did not have before the accident that causes the injury<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some examples are a man in Austria that suffered an mTBI and suddenly developed the skill to play the piano. Another young man suffered a concussion and found that he began to see fractal patterns everywhere in nature. However, cases, where changes in personality and skills are for the better, are few and far between.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the patient experiences a turn for the worse, and they may develop issues with controlling anger, and even develop disorders such as, \u201cTourette\u2019s syndrome,\u201d where they frequently swear uncontrollably.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice changes in your personality or those close to you mention that you seem to be a different person, make an appointment with your physician for an MRI.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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