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Detecting the signs of a concussion

Posted on December 22, 2015 in Brain Injury

It can be a scary event when Los Angeles residents suffer a serious injury. While the person who suffers the injury is often the first to know, this is not always the case, as individuals may suffer a serious injury without even knowing it at the time.

This is certainly the case with concussions and other head injuries that are often associated with playing football. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that can occur from a blow to the head or body that causes the head and brain to move back and forth rapidly. The sudden movement damages the brain cells and even creates chemical changes within the brain.

Perhaps the only thing more troublesome than the serious nature of the injury itself is that the injury can go undetected. Individuals cannot see a brain injury in the same way they can see a broken bone or other injury, and therefore it may only be recognizable if certain symptoms are detected.

Common symptoms of a concussion include appearing dazed, exhibiting confusion and forgetfulness and answering questions slowly. Individuals may also have trouble balancing, or they may exhibit mood and behavior changes. The individual who has suffered the injury may report headaches or pressure in the head, nausea, dizziness, blurry vision and sensitivity to light.

While these signs often show up shortly after the injury, the full impact of the injury may not become apparent until later on. However, because it is vital that the person’s brain have adequate time to recover from the injury, it is important for both the athlete and those around the athlete to be on the lookout for these or other symptoms and proceed with caution.

Unfortunately, this does not occur in many cases, as athletes are placed back into the game moments after suffering a serious brain injury. This can lead to even further injury, as the person is more susceptible to suffering brain injuries after suffering the initial incident.

Source: Centers for Disease Control, “Heads Up: Concussions in Football,” accessed on Dec. 19, 2015