A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury that results due to a jolt, bump, or blow to the head or if any kind of hit to the body causing the brain to move back and forth rapidly. The sudden swinging movement can lead to the twisting or bouncing around of the brain in the skull causing chemical changes in the brain. Moreover, the swinging movements or a blow to the head can also cause damaging and stretching of the brain cells. Healthcare providers might describe the condition of a concussion as a minor brain injury as concussions are typically not life-threatening. Even so, the consequences of a concussion can be severe. [1]
Most of the times, a concussion can develop after a blow or an impact to the head or a whiplash-type bruise that makes your head to go back and forth and shaking at a faster pace. The effects of a concussion involve making the person unconscious and altering the normal mental state. Anyone can face injury during a car accident, any daily activity, or a fall. If you are from an athletic background and actively participate in impact sports such as boxing or football, then you are at a higher risk of suffering from a concussion. Although concussions are not that hazardous but they can develop some symptoms that need immediate medical help.
Some people confuse a contusion with a concussion but they are very different. A concussion particularly affects the brain while contusions are just bruises. Contusion might develop on your head but they are not usually that serious and tend to subside within several days. The neurologists and other specialists categorize a concussion as the least serious and most commonly occurring type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The word concussion comes from a Latin word concutere, which refers to “shake violently”. The after-effects of concussions are typically temporary but can result in problems with memory, coordination, balance, and concentration.
According to the reports of CDC, almost 173, 285 people aging below 19 years came in treatment for concussions from the year 2001 to 2009. Most of these young patients undergo treatment in hospital emergency rooms as their concussions had a relationship with recreation activities or sports. Some other causes of concussions include work-related injuries, fighting, falls, car accidents, or bicycle accidents. A majority of the concussion patients suffer from headache for a longer duration. Falls are also among the most common causes of concussion. Fortunately, a lot of people recover fully from a concussion.
Most of the concussion patient’s complaint about ongoing neck pain due to the accidents or a blow to the head. The resulting whiplash movement due to an auto accident causes the head to bend back and forth on the site of the cervical spine which leads to an injury of neck muscles. Every person is different in showing symptoms of concussion. A lot of people can take a hit to the head without feeling anything and this is known as sub-concussive blow. Although there is no fixed number of hits and a recorded degree of force that can lead to concussion symptoms but if a person has a prior diagnosis of concussion, they are at a higher risk of getting permanent brain damage.