There is a lot that can be said about concussions. And while there has been increasing awareness around concussion and concussion care, there is still a significant lack in resources and care for an individual who suffers from a concussion. As we begin to understand more of what is occurring within the brain in a patient with a concussion, we are better able to recognize and treat symptoms to aid in a full recovery.

What is a concussion?

When most people think of concussion, they think of hitting your head. While commonly this is what causes a concussion, you do not need to hit your head to get a concussion. To put it simply, a concussion occurs when there is a force that causes the brain to “rattle” in the head.

What are the symptoms of concussion?

After a concussion, it is important to be evaluated by a trained medical provider to ensure there are not any signs of a potentially dangerous problem. Some signs to look for immediately after injury is prolonged confusion or loss of consciousness, more than 1 episode of vomiting or repeated vomiting, changes in speech or weakness or worsening symptoms. If any of these occur, the individual should seek emergent evaluation by a medical professional such as an ER.

Once these potentially dangerous symptoms have been ruled out, then other symptoms can be addressed. These may include:

• Headache
• Balance problems
• Dizziness
• Sleeping too much or having difficulty sleeping
• Mood changes, irritability
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light and/or sound
• Fatigue
• Concentration difficulty

Most symptoms will improve over a week to 2 weeks after injury. However, it is important to be evaluated after a concussion regardless of symptoms to ensure that a plan is in place to help aid in recovery and full return to play and school.

How long does a concussion last?

This can be a difficult question to answer, as every individual will respond differently after experiencing a concussion. Typically, concussion patients recover fully within the first 14 days. However, just because symptoms have gone away does not mean that metabolically your brain has fully recovered. How your body responds to a concussion depends on many factors such as diet, sleep patterns, mental health and physical activity. An anti-inflammatory diet that is high in fat, protein and fiber is recommended even before a concussion has occurred. Having routine sleep schedule and ensuring good sleep hygiene helps your brain to reset for the next day. Routine exercise is recommended for all individuals, and continued activity after a concussion has been shown to help increase success of recovery. Any underlying anxiety and/or depression prior to concussion can simply add another layer of post-concussion care, as the stress of concussions can worsen anxiety and depression symptoms. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle prior to concussions can aid in recovery after a concussion.

If you are an athlete or student, it is important to undergo baseline testing before engaging in sports as this helps provide a guide for comparison to determine how your brain has recovered after a concussion. This allows the provider to determine when it is safe for the individual to return to full contact sports, school, and/or work.

What is the best treatment for concussion?

It used to be said that after a concussion occurred you would be directed to simply rest. Avoiding all activities, screens, school, etc. Research is proving this to not be the case, and that prolonged rest after concussion can delay recovery. The best course of treatment is to back off activities. You can still do most of the things you were doing prior to concussion, just simply less of it. Yes, you can watch TV. Yes, you can take a nap. Yes, you can go to school. Yes, you can take out the trash and help your mom with household chores. You may, however, need to only watch 15 minutes of TV or videos on your phone. Or only be able to tolerate half a day of school or only be able to read for 10 minutes before you need to take a break and let your brain rest. The typical recommendation is to do symptom-limited rest for the first 24-28 hours and then gradually return to activities. Research is showing that the sooner concussed patients get back to activity, the faster the recovery. There is a delicate balance between increasing activity and provoking symptoms. This is why it is important to talk to a healthcare provider that is skilled in concussion management.