What are the 4 categories of concussion symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of concussion reported within 1 to 7 days post injury (see Table 3-3) typically fall into four categories—physical (somatic), cognitive, emotional (affective), and sleep—and patients will experience one or more symptoms from one or more categories.
What are the warning signs of a concussion?
Concussion Danger Signs
- One pupil larger than the other.
- Drowsiness or inability to wake up.
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination.
- Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching).
How do pupils look when you have a concussion?
After more serious head injuries are excluded, a diagnosis of concussion can be made. Medical professionals have long used the pupillary light reflex—usually in the form of a penlight test where they shine a light into a patient’s eyes—to assess severe forms of brain injury.
Can I take Tylenol if I hit my head?
If you have a headache, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may ease the pain. Avoid taking other pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) if you suspect you’ve had a concussion. These may increase the risk of bleeding
How long does a mild concussion last?
In most cases, concussion recovery takes about 7 to 10 days . However, if you don’t get enough rest or follow your doctor’s recommendations, recovery may take a bit longer. Learn more about how long concussions last. In addition, some people develop a condition called post-concussion syndrome.
How long should you stay awake after a concussion?
The new thinking: What are the recommendations for sleep after concussion now? The reality is that these more concerning injuries usually show up in the first 3 to 6 hours after injury. Therefore, you should keep a concussed person awake during this time and monitor them.
How long should your head hurt after hitting it?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, violent jolt or blow to your head. Anyone from infants to the elderly can get a concussion. Headache is the most common symptom. Most symptoms resolve within 14 to 21 days
Should I put ice on my head if I hit it?
1. Ask them to rest and apply something cold to the injury – for example, frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel. Applying something cold to the injury will reduce external swelling and pain. When a person has a blow to the head, their brain can be shaken inside the skull as well.
Is it bad to sleep with an ice pack on your head?
Cool your bedroom to at least 68º — the temperature that corresponds with your lowest body temp during sleep. Go so far as to sleep with an ice pack on your head. Certain hormones are necessary to transition from the nervous system’s daytime (hot) sympathetic to the parasympathetic (cool) sleep mode
Can an xray show a concussion?
Does a concussion injury show up on x-ray, on CT scan or MRI? No, it won’t show up on an x-ray, CT scan or MRI. It does, however, affect how the brain works. It’s a problem of function and not due to structural damage of the brain that can be seen
What to do when you hit your head and get a bump?
How to treat a minor head injury
- hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas in a tea towel) to the injury regularly for short periods in the first few days to bring down any swelling.
- rest and avoid stress – you or your child do not need to stay awake if you’re tired.
Will a CT scan show a concussion?
Brain scans are usually not helpful for a concussion. A CT scan takes pictures to create images of the brain. The scan can show if there’s a fracture or bleeding. An MRI creates clear images of brain tissue. But these scans cannot show if you have a concussion.
How long does it take for a head bump to go down adults?
In most cases, there is no long-term damage, although improvement may be gradual. Moderate head injuries — The most dramatic improvement usually occurs within the first one to six weeks. After that time, there may be some remaining problems with memory or attention, but these may not be permanent.
What does a CT scan show after concussion?
X-Ray: X-rays are designed to look at bone and could help show a skull fracture, which is rarely present in a typical concussion. CT Scan: A CT scan is also called a CAT scan which stands for computed tomography. It can detect bleeding or swelling in the brain as well as skull fractures.
Can you fail a concussion test?
Pomycala said there is no pass or fail with the test, though. It is just used to determine someone’s baseline
Can doctors tell if you fake a concussion?
If your balance is affected by concussion (as it is 50% of the time), you will not be able to fake a good balance test. More modern baseline tests have internal surveillance for unexpected bad performance that can flag a test to be repeated