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Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for headaches. They may want to modify dosages until you have recovered from your concussion. Those who lose consciousness (even for a few seconds) must be taken to the emergency room as soon as possible.Ĭonsult with your doctor about any medications you may be currently on. Seek the aid of a medical professional.Īfter a head injury, consult a doctor to determine if the individual has a concussion, how serious it is, and whether treatment is necessary. If you or someone you know has suffered a suspected concussion, take the following steps:ġ.
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What Should I Do in Case of a Concussion? To ascertain whether there is any bruising or bleeding in the brain, the doctor may recommend a CT or MRI scan.
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If any of these signs and symptoms are observed in an individual after an accident, call an ambulance or take them to the emergency room immediately. Passing out or losing consciousness (even momentarily).Mood, behaviour, or personality changes.Loss of coordination (balance issues or clumsiness).The most severe symptoms of a concussion are: Parents or guardians should keep an eye on the following behaviours if they believe their child may have been concussed: Toddlers and infants, however, are more challenging to diagnose, given their inherent lesser communication skills. Older children will have symptoms similar to those of adults. While children can be more resilient to injury, they are still vulnerable to concussions, given the ‘right’ circumstances. Loss of memory before or after the incident.Individuals should be monitored closely after an accident to determine if they’ve acquired a concussion. Additionally, while some symptoms last only for a few seconds, others can persist for months. Symptoms vary greatly and may show immediately after an accident or take days or weeks before they manifest. They are not easily discernible and may prove challenging to diagnose since the symptoms may not appear in diagnostic tests or neurological exams. Though physical symptoms, like a bruise or a cut on your head, are visible, concussions are less so. Sports and other recreational activities.A severe blow can damage blood vessels and nerves to varying degrees. While this does work very well to protect the brain from the stresses of normal day-to-day activities, it may not be enough to cushion the brain during a severe blow. This creates a buffer layer of tissue and fluid that acts much like a shock absorber to protect the brain from injury. The brain doesn’t sit snugly inside the skull it is contained inside three membranes called the meninges, with spinal fluid between the first and second layers of the meninges. This is most often the result of a sudden direct impact to the head, but can also be caused by rapid deceleration flinging your head forward or from side to side (like in a car collision). Here is a guide to understanding concussions:Ī concussion is a type of brain injury caused by your brain colliding with the inside wall of your skull. Knowing the signs and symptoms of an MTBI is crucial after an accident, as they can have a long-term impact on your physical and mental health. Unfortunately, concussions sometimes do not display obvious symptoms and may go unnoticed for some time. A majority of TBIs fall under the category of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), which is commonly known as a concussion.Ĭoncussions are rarely life threatening at first. Approximately 1.5 million Canadians are living with the effects of some form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Accidents can cause a variety of injuries including trauma to the brain.
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