While physical activities are fun and an important means of staying healthy, it is important to keep safety in mind. One common injury is a concussion, a brain injury that occurs when you receive a sudden blow or jolt to the head. A doctor may refer to a concussion as a “mild brain injury.” Most concussions are not life-threatening, but they can have serious effects. A concussion may lead to thinking, sleeping, and balance problems.
Some symptoms of a concussion are obvious, such as losing consciousness or forgetting what happened right before the injury. But other people will not. In fact, most people do not realize you do not have to lose consciousness in order to have a concussion. Symptoms of a concussion range from mild to severe and can last a few hours, days, weeks, or even months. Physical symptoms of a concussion include:
- Headache
- Fuzzy or blurry vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Balance problems
- Feeling tired or having no energy
Other, less-obvious symptoms include not being able to concentrate, being easily upset or angered, or sleeping more or less than usual. If you notice any symptoms of a concussion, you should contact your physician to receive an accurate diagnosis. A person who might have a concussion needs to immediately stop any kind of sport or activity. Being active again too soon increases the person’s risk of having a more serious brain injury. Rest is the best way to recover from a concussion.
To help avoid receiving a concussion, it is important to wear a helmet or safety equipment when playing high-contact or dangerous sports; driving or riding on a motorcycle, scooter, snowmobile or ATV; or any other activity where there is a potential for injury, such as biking, skateboarding, skiing or riding a horse. When riding in any type of vehicle, it is important to always wear a seat belt and to never drive or ride with someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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