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Clinical Specialties
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Concussion

DEFINITION

Concussion is a temporary change in the function of the brain due to injury. Concussion is usually caused by a direct injury to the head, most commonly caused during sports. While concussion can be accompanied by a loss of consciousness, it is possible to have a concussion without ever blacking out. Concussion can affect main of the functions of the brain including reflexes, memory, judgment, balance, speech or coordination. The normal brain has a soft consistency and is protected because it floats in the fluid surrounding the brain in the skull. A blow to the head causes the brain to bang against the skull and sustain temporary damage to that part of the brain including a little bleeding in that area. Any injury to the head can cause concussion including traffic accidents, sports injuries, and falls. A concussion can happen even without direct injury to the head including the rapid stop involved in a car accident even if your head does not directly hit anything. Symptoms of concussion can last for weeks to months which is called post concussion syndrome. Multiple concussions over the course of a life can lead to permanent neurologic damage.

SYMPTOMS
Confusion, amnesia, dizziness, headache, loss of consciousness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), fatigue, slurring of speech, nausea, vomiting, difficulty concentrating, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, difficulty sleeping, depression, irritability

DIAGNOSIS
Your doctor will begin by talking to you and other witnesses about your symptoms. Your doctor will do a physical exam focusing on your nerves and memory as well as your balance and coordination. Your doctor will generally make a diagnosis based on your story. Your doctor may recommend getting a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your head to look at any residual damage to the brain. If your injury is severe, your doctor might recommend spending the night in the hospital for observation.

TREATMENT
The most important part of recovering from a concussion is resting and not allowing another injury to the head. Medication can be useful for pain relief such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). You should not take NSAID pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) because they can increase the risk of bleeding. If you return to sporting activities too soon and sustain additional injuries, the damage to your brain could end up being severe. If your loss of consciousness lasts longer than 15 minutes, you cannot return to activity for at least a full week. Your doctor should always evaluate you before you return to physical activity.

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