According to the Brain Injury Research Institute, there are almost four million sports-related or recreational concussions in the U.S. every year. While some of these are severe enough to require medical intervention, others are mild and can be managed without a doctor’s care. Since a traumatic brain injury can lead to death, however, it’s critical to know what a mild concussion looks like.
The first thing you need to know is that some symptoms of a mild concussion can show up immediately while others appear over time. Additionally, the symptoms can change while your body is recovering from the concussion.
Generally, most people fully recover from the injury within two weeks without repercussions.
You may experience a headache, nausea, or vomiting at the early stage of a mild concussion. As time passes, you can have trouble concentrating, remembering things, sleeping, or thinking clearly.
Some other possible symptoms are irritability, chronic fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, and feeling more emotional.
While the combination and timeline of these symptoms can vary, many people report that the headaches, dizziness, and nausea ease within the first few days.
Rest is the main way to allow your body to heal from a mild concussion. Doctors recommend getting as much rest as possible in the first 48 hours after the injury so you don’t worsen the condition.
After that time, you may move around but should avoid any strenuous activities that will risk another injury or throw you off balance. If you’re doing something and feel your symptoms getting worse, you should stop immediately.
Additionally, you should pay attention to taking care of your overall health. It’s good to eat as well as you can despite any nausea you may be experiencing and stay hydrated. If the nausea is bad enough to hinder eating well, then you should consult your doctor.
For people who need to return to work, be sure to schedule breaks within the day so you don’t strain yourself. It might be best to talk to your employer about working shorter hours while you recover from the concussion.
Finally, physical symptoms like headache and nausea can be treated with over-the-counter medication. You should avoid any drugs that contain ibuprofen or aspirin as they can make the condition worse by encouraging bleeding.
It’s important to note that a head injury is always considered to be serious so it’s best to consult your doctor when you’ve been hurt. This is especially true if there is an open wound.
Some other signs that you need medical attention include losing consciousness for longer than 30 seconds, seeing fluid or blood coming from the nose or ears, repeated vomiting or nausea, significant changes in your eyes or vision, slurred speech, seizures, continued loss of balance, disorientation or confusion, and weakness in your extremities.
You may also feel well initially but experience changes over time that indicates an emergency. These signs include a worsening headache, continuous ringing in the ears, sustained loss of memory, significant changes to mental acuity or function, dizziness that keeps returning, and large bumps or bruises on the head, around the eyes, or behind the ears.
If your symptoms are generally getting worse within 24 hours of the injury, you need to see the doctor.
Millions of people get concussions every year. If you have a head injury, your first step should be to talk to your doctor to confirm what your symptoms are.
Mild concussions can usually be managed at home with over-the-counter medications and rest but you need to keep an eye on your symptoms. Feeling worse could be a sign that you need to go to the emergency room.
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