A concussion is a traumatic brain injury affecting how the brain functions and processes information after head trauma.
The effects of concussion after receiving a blow to the head are usually temporary. Signs a concussion has occurred include a lump or bump on the head, headaches, nausea, and lapses in concentration, memory, balance, and coordination.
Concussions are typically caused by a blow to the head that creates an injury to the brain. Contact sports with a high degree of repeated impacts to the head, like boxing, MMA or rugby, will increase the chances of repeated concussions and cause damage to the brain that has long-term effects. Concussions can be life-threatening if left untreated or undiagnosed.
Concussions from head trauma can range from mild traumatic brain injury to severe traumatic brain injury resulting in loss of consciousness. The desire to vomit, feeling squeezy, blurred or double vision, and having one or both pupils fixed and dilated all indicate brain swelling. A blow to the head causes concussions or, in some cases, results from whiplash when the head suddenly snaps forward and backwards after being hit from behind.
How Do You Get A Concussion
The only way to get a concussion is to have the brain displaced inside the skull, causing head trauma. The brain swells under the impact site pushing against the skull the same way a swollen ankle swells and expands. The brain floats in cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull to protect it from injury. The impact trauma causes the brain to swell, putting pressure on the brain. Due to being contained inside the fixed space of the skull with no room to expand, the brain is compressed, causing the visible signs of a concussion to appear.
How Do Concussions Affect The Brain
A concussion results in neural damage. Neural damage affects the brain’s ability to correctly process information and send or receive signals from the body. When cognitive ability is compromised, people make bad decisions that could result in larger problems and complications.
You don’t have to lose consciousness to be concussed. The force necessary to give a concussion varies depending on the person, and the object density used to cause the trauma. It doesn’t take much to acquire a minor head trauma.
Who Is Most At Risk From A Concussion
High-risk categories for concussion include sports and careers in the construction industry. Boxers and athletes are more likely to sustain repeated head blows in a short period resulting in multiple concussions over their career. Each head trauma builds on the last injury leading to permanent brain damage over time.
What Is The Best First Aid Concussion Treatment
The first two days after a concussion, rest is recommended. Limit activities requiring mental concentration and overstimulation of the brain. Watching mindless videos or social media is fine, but playing a game of Halo, GTA V, or Fortnite would not be considered relaxing or giving your cognitive process a rest.
Light exercise and physical activity as tolerated beginning a few days after the injury have been shown to speed recovery; however, make sure you avoid any high-risk activities that could lead to another concussion.
Pain relief and medication are an option under the doctor’s advice; do not take medication that might mask or hide the signs and symptoms of concussion from your doctor.
First Aid Training For Head Trauma
Whether it is your first-time learning CPR and First Aid, or you are updating your old skills, having current knowledge on how to give First Aid in any situation is a valuable skill to possess. Consider taking a First Aid course and arm yourself with the knowledge you need to potentially save a life or make someone’s day.
