Concussion: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can occur after an impact to your head. Concussions can also happen during a whiplash-type injury that causes your head and brain to shake quickly back and forth.

Not every bump to the head will cause a TBI. But concussions can cause noticeable symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored. These include headaches, an altered mental state, and even loss of consciousness.

Concussions are usually not life threatening, but they can cause serious symptoms that require medical attention. Treatment may include rest, taking a break from specific activities, and pain medication.

Head injuries can affect anyone, whether caused by a fall at home or in a car accident. If you participate in impact sports such as football or boxing, you have an increased risk of getting a concussion.

We’ll go over key signs and symptoms of a concussion, how this varies by age, what treatment looks like, and more.

Symptoms of a concussion vary depending on both the severity of the injury and the person injured. It’s not true that a loss of consciousness always occurs with a concussion. Some people do experience a loss of consciousness, but others don’t.

Concussions can be painful, but most are not life threatening. You should still always consult a doctor after a possible head injury, as medical treatment may be necessary.

Here’s a breakdown of different symptom categories for concussions:

Symptoms of a concussion in yourself

It’s important to know how to recognize a concussion in yourself, as well as in others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms you may experience during a concussion include:

• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• confusion or feeling disoriented
• drowsiness or feeling sluggish
• dizziness
• double vision or blurred vision
• sensitivity to light or noise
• balance problems

Symptoms of concussion in a loved one

Sometimes other people are able to observe signs of a concussion more clearly than the concussed person.

Signs of a concussion observed by others include:

• memory problems
• a dazed look
• sudden mood, behavior, or personality changes
• losing consciousness
• slow reflexes and responses

These symptoms may begin immediately, or they can be delayed for hours or days following the injury. It’s important to consistently check on someone if they may have a concussion to monitor any symptom changes.

Recovery symptoms for concussion

During the recovery period after a concussion, you may still experience uncomfortable symptoms.

These include:

• irritability
• sensitivity to light or noise
• difficulty concentrating
• mild headaches

If you believe you or another person has experienced a head injury, seek medical assistance.

Concussion symptoms in babies

Concussion symptoms can vary when it comes to babies. These may not be as noticeable at first. Babies don’t exhibit slurred speech, walking difficulties, and other hallmark symptoms that can be seen in concussed children and adults.

Some common signs of a concussion in babies include:

• a visible bump or bruise on the baby’s head
• crying when you move the baby’s head or neck
• vomiting
• irritability
• drowsiness
• seizure
• dilated pupils

In rare cases, concussions can cause permanent brain damage in infants. While most babies recover from concussions, it’s important to have them checked out by a doctor. Seek immediate medical help if your baby is unconscious.

Concussion symptoms in children

As children get older, they may show clearer behavioral signs of concussion, and be able to express their symptoms themselves.

According to a 2020 study, common symptoms reported in children ages 5-11 with concussions were:

• trouble sleeping
• vision problems (including eye pain, double vision)
• headache
• dizziness

Other signs to look for in younger children include:

• excessive crying
• staring into space
• behavioral changes
• trouble concentrating

Because children’s brains are still developing, they are uniquely at risk of TBI, especially if they play sports.

It’s important that children are promptly evaluated after a potential TBI, and provided necessary accommodations at school during their recovery. Kids recovering from a concussion may need time away from sports teams and classes. They may also require extra breaks during the day or assignment extensions.

See a doctor if you suspect that you or someone else has a concussion. While most concussions resolve on their own, it’s important to evaluate the severity of the injury.

Concussions may be accompanied by injuries to the spine. If you think a person has a neck or back injury, avoid moving them and call an ambulance for help. If you absolutely must move the person, do so very carefully. You should try to keep the person’s neck and back as stationary as possible. This will avoid causing further damage to the spine.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), seek immediate medical assistance if someone with a concussion has:

• slurred speech
• trouble waking up, or you can’t wake them
• seizures
• consistent vomiting
• a history of multiple concussions

In general, someone with a concussion should absolutely see a doctor if their symptoms aren’t getting better after a few days, or are getting worse.

Concussions are caused by some type of impact injury to your head.

Our brains float in a jelly-like fluid inside our skulls. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Head injuries can cause our brain and its surrounding membrane (meninges) to hit the side of our skull. This kind of impact can damage the brain’s tissues, and even cause our CSF to leak.

Causes of a concussion include:

• falling down
• getting hit in the head (especially when playing sports)
• being in a car accident
• being injured in a blast or explosion

In severe head injuries, part of our skull can fracture. Skull fractures can cause jagged edges of bone to poke at our brain and cause harm.

Some traumatic brain injuries involve more than an impact of the brain against our own skull. TBI and concussion can also occur if a foreign object enters your skull, such as a bullet or shrapnel.

If a doctor or emergency room visit is necessary, your doctor will ask how the injury happened and what symptoms you’re experiencing. You may also be asked to fill out a chart or questionnaire about your symptoms, and rate their severity.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam, which may include a balance and vision test. Doctors use vision tests to look for changes in pupil size, eye movements, and light sensitivities, which concussions can cause.

In the case of serious impact or symptoms, your doctor may request an MRI scan or a CT scan of your brain to check for damage.

If you experienced seizures following a concussion, your doctor may also perform an electroencephalogram, which monitors brain waves.

Concussions in athletes

Concussions are a common complication of contact sports. Players used to be allowed to return to play with limited intervention after a head injury, but now standardized assessment tools are used to watch carefully for signs of injury to help prevent secondary injuries from another impact.

It’s important to always report a possible concussion to your coach, even if you’re worried about being put on the bench. Head injuries can become very serious if not treated promptly, and lead to lifelong health complications.

Was this helpful?

Treatment for a concussion depends on the severity of your symptoms. Most concussions can be healed at home or with conservative medical approaches.

Treatment can include:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Drinking plenty of water. Concussions can cause nausea and vomiting, which lead to dehydration.
• Getting enough rest.
• Taking a break from sports and other strenuous activities.
• Not driving a vehicle right away. This includes cars and bikes, or anything that requires steering. Your balance, focus, and coordination may be impaired following a concussion.
• Avoiding alcohol while recovering. Alcohol can slow recovery and have adverse interactions with certain medications. Talk to your doctor about whether or not drinking is okay, and when.
• Brain rest. Minimize use of electronics (including TV, cell phone, computer) to allow your brain time to heal. Bright lights and noises can worsen concussion and recovery symptoms.

You might be evaluated for surgery or other medical procedures if you have:

• bleeding in the brain
• swelling of the brain
• other serious injury to the brain

Q:

I’ve always heard that you should keep someone awake for 24 hours if they’ve suffered a significant head injury, but is that true? Why is it so important?

Anonymous

A:

The traditional teaching is that it is important to awaken someone periodically after a traumatic brain injury (e.g., if they have suffered loss of consciousness or a severe concussion) in order to be certain that they are not deteriorating. Being unable to arouse someone would be indicative of an extreme situation. But the act of sleeping itself would not be harmful.

In the hospital, if someone has suffered a sufficiently bad injury, it is likely that they would have had a CT scan or MRI to directly identify an area of bleeding, fractured skull, or other injury. In the wilderness, away from testing, it is reasonable to awaken someone every few hours to be certain that they are not getting worse. There is no absolute interval for or duration of such evaluation, but remember that at some point, people need to sleep because they are tired, and rest is important for recovery.

Paul Auerbach, MD, MS, FACEP, FAWMAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Was this helpful?

Anyone who has had a concussion shouldn’t return to sports or strenuous activities without a doctor’s permission. Getting a second concussion before the first concussion is healed can cause a condition known as second impact syndrome, which can increase the chances of severe brain swelling and may be fatal.

Remember, it’s important to take time to rest after any concussion. This allows your brain to heal. Even once your doctor has granted permission to return to sports or exercise, that return should be gradual.

Other long-term complications include:

• Post-concussion syndrome. This causes you to experience concussion symptoms for weeks (or even months) instead of just a few days. If concussion symptoms last longer than 3 months, this is called persistent postconcussive syndrome. It is more likely to occur in those with multiple TBIs, or when athletes return to play too soon in recovery.
• Post-traumatic headaches. These can last for a few months.
• Post-traumatic vertigo. This condition causes dizziness, and can also occur for months after the injury.
• Brain injury or damage. People with multiple TBIs are more likely to experience long-term adverse effects in the brain.

You can reduce your risk of getting a concussion taking some basic safety precautions.

This includes:

• wearing a properly fitted helmet
• using athletic safety gear
• following safety guidelines in sports, and when operating vehicles or equipment
• taking plenty of time to recover from injuries

The CDC’s HEADS UP initiative provides free information on head injury treatment and prevention for schools and the general public. It includes tailored guides for athletes, parents, coaches, and healthcare workers.

Concussions are a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and most concussed people recover fully with no long-term complications.

Concussions often heal on their own with rest. It may be necessary to take a break from sports, school, or work while recovering, or receive accommodations. Some people take over-the-counter pain medications to help with symptoms.

It’s important that all head injuries are evaluated by a doctor. In case of serious or prolonged symptoms, further examination and imaging may be needed.

Some concussion symptoms may take weeks to months to disappear. In rare instances, people experience emotional, mental, or physical changes that are more lasting. Repeat concussions can increase the chances of permanent brain damage.

How Long Does It Take? Plus, 10 Recovery Tip

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

If you have a concussion, the best thing to do is rest, drink water, and eat healthfully. Avoiding screens and bright lights can also help. In some cases, you may have a more serious injury that needs more medical attention.

Concussions are brain injuries that result from the brain hitting the skull or a strain on neural tissue due to excessive force. This force can be direct, like a hit to the head, or indirect, like whiplash in a car accident.

Concussion symptoms range from mild to severe and include:

• loss of consciousness
• headache, which may range in intensity from mild to severe
• poor memory or concentration
• sensitivity to noise, light, or both
• dizziness or vertigo
• blurred vision
• sudden mood changes, including irritability, unexplained crying, or depression
• nausea or vomiting
• poor balance
• drowsiness
• fatigue
• reduced hearing
• trouble sleeping

While concussions can cause a loss of consciousness on impact, this doesn’t always happen. In fact, 81 to 92 percent of concussions don’t involve loss of consciousness. In addition, symptoms can appear anywhere from the time of impact to several days after the initial injury.

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. Experts aren’t sure why this happens. If you have this condition, concussion recovery can take several months or even longer. During this time, you may experience a headache and other concussion symptoms as listed above.

If you’ve recently had a concussion and are still having symptoms after 7 to 10 days, make an appointment with your doctor to check for signs of post-concussion syndrome.

It’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor if you think you have a concussion. They can determine how severe your concussion is and give you more specific recovery tips.

In the meantime, try these tips to help you quickly recover from a concussion and get back to your usual activities.

1. Reduce screen time

Bright lights and the eyestrain associated with looking at them can sometimes make concussions symptoms worse, especially headaches. As you recover, try to limit the amount of time you spend looking at your phone, laptop, TV, or other screens.

You can also help to counteract the sleep problems associated with concussions by avoiding screens for two hours before going to sleep.

Learn more about the connection between less screen time and better sleep.

2. Limit exposure to bright lights and loud sounds

After a concussion, you might notice that you’re especially sensitive to bright lights and loud sounds. You may want to try avoiding big crowds and bright fluorescent lighting for a few days while you recover. This will give your body time to heal and prevent light or sound sensitivities from getting worse.

3. Avoid unnecessary movement of your head and neck

Try to avoid anything that causes your head or neck to jostle around. These are the types of motions that can cause a concussion in the first place, and minimizing them gives your brain a chance to recover. While some of these motions might be unavoidable, steer clear of roller coasters and excessive physical activity for a few weeks.

4. Stay hydrated

There’s preliminary evidence that dehydration may increase your risk of concussion. This suggests that staying hydrated is probably a good idea while you recover too. Proper hydration is also important for your overall health, especially while your body is healing.

How much water should you be drinking? Find out.

5. Rest

Resting may be the most important thing you can do while recovering from a concussion. Giving both your mind and body plenty of rest reduces your stress levels and helps your body recover.

Avoid any strenuous exercise for a week or so. If you want to keep exercising, try to keep it light. If you’re a runner, for example, try walking. It’s also best to avoid any heavy lifting for a week.

6. Eat more protein

A 2015 study found that branched-chain amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, may improve some of the cognitive symptoms of a concussion. As you recover, try to eat plenty of protein. Meats, beans, nuts, and fish are all great sources of branched-chain amino acids.

Looking for more options? Here are 20 high-protein foods to help you recover.

7. Eat foods rich in omega-3s

Omega-3 fatty acids have also been linked to improving both cognition and the recovery of neurons in concussions sustained by mice in a lab setting. They’re also good for overall health, so there’s plenty of benefit to incorporating them in your diet.

Foods rich in omega-3s include fatty fish, such as salmon, walnuts, flax seeds, soy, and chia seeds. You can also take fish oil supplements, available on Amazon, to increase your omega-3 intake.

8. Eat foods with lots of antioxidants

Some research suggests that antioxidants may improve memory and overall neural functioning. They haven’t been linked specifically to recovery after a concussion, however.

To get more antioxidants, try eating these 12 foods.

9. Be patient

Try to resist the urge to jump right back into your usual daily activities. This can be especially hard if your symptoms come and go. However, taking it easy for a week will help you get back to your everyday life faster.

Try to use this time to catch up on sleep and reduce your overall stress.

10. Follow all your doctor’s orders

Your doctor will likely give you some additional recovery tips. These might include waking yourself up regularly during the first night or taking some time off work.

If headaches are a component of your concussion, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat them.

They can also tell you about signs to watch for and guide you on when it might be a good idea to head to the ER.

Most concussions resolve on their own without any lasting effects. However, some concussions can accompany a more serious injury that requires treatment.

Seek emergency treatment if you notice any of the following after a concussion:

• sudden, intense headaches
• difficulty talking or finding the right words
• tingling or numbness
• difficulty swallowing
• lethargy
• unusual sense of taste
• loss of consciousness
• seizures
• weakness in the arm or leg
• increased heart rate
• double vision
• loss of balance
• paralysis in any part of the body, including only one side of the face

To be safe, it’s best to talk to a doctor after sustaining any type of head injury. If it’s serious, your chances of making a full recovery are much better if you seek early treatment.

Treatment of concussion. Types and symptoms

Benefits of treatment at the NET clinic

Comprehensive neurological care for children from birth and adults

Modern methods of treatment of developmental delays

Doctors of the highest category with many years of experience

Diagnostics on expert-class equipment

Individual rehabilitation programs

Clinical base of the Department of Pediatric Neurology

Specialists

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Pediatric Neurology, KSMA, neurologist, epileptologist, neurophysiologist, osteopath, member of the Russian Osteopathic Association
Morozov Dmitry Valerievich
Experience 14 years

More

Mubarakshina Aisulu Revalevna
Experience 31 years

More

The following services may help with these symptoms

Neurology

Treatment:
– Headaches
– Dizziness
– Fainting
– Pain in the face, neck, back, limbs, all over the body
– Muscle weakness
– Sleep, speech, memory, concentration disorders
– Numbness in the limbs
– Consequences of a stroke
– Dementia
– Cerebral ischemia

Read more

Ultrasound diagnostics

Diagnosis:
– Headaches
– Fainting
– Decreased vision
– Difficulty concentrating
– Hyperactivity
– Suspicion of hip dysplasia
– Abdominal symptoms
– Feelings of weakness, fatigue, constipation, abdominal pain
– Suspicion of thyroid pathology

Read more

Video-EEG monitoring

-Diagnosis of epilepsy
-Clarification of the form of epilepsy
-Selection of the drug
-Clarification of the cause of non-epileptic seizures
-Detection of epileptiform activity and its correction

Read more

Making an appointment

Concussion: modern methods of treatment

Concussion is a reversible impairment of brain function that occurs as a result of trauma. It is believed that with a concussion, there is a violation of the connections between the nerve cells of the brain. Among the causes of concussion are traffic accidents, industrial, domestic and sports injuries. Concussion leads among all traumatic brain injuries.

Symptoms of a concussion

The main sign of a concussion is loss of consciousness immediately at the moment of injury. The only exceptions are children and the elderly.

Signs of concussion (immediately after injury):

• rapid breathing
• vomiting,
• slow or rapid pulse,
• memory impairment.

However, these indicators return to normal after a short period of time. Blood pressure quickly becomes normal, but it also happens that it rises steadily – this can happen not only because of the injury itself, but also under the influence of the stress that accompanies it. If there is a concussion, the body temperature does not rise. Signs of a concussion (after the victim regained consciousness): headaches, nausea, dizziness, weakness, flushing of the face, tinnitus, increased sweating, general malaise, insomnia. If there is a concussion , the general condition of the person, as a rule, improves rapidly after a week, less often – two. However, we should not forget that headaches and other symptoms can persist much longer.

Diagnosis

What to do with a concussion? When diagnosing, it is very important to take into account the information of the witnesses of the incident, as well as under what circumstances the injury occurred. In addition, factors such as the psychological state of a person, whether he was in a state of alcoholic intoxication, etc. play a role. Concussion often does not manifest itself. Immediately after the injury, the doctor and other bystanders may see a brief loss of consciousness, eye twitching when looking away (nystagmus), impaired coordination and balance, and double vision. In addition, laboratory and instrumental methods for detecting concussion are also absent. More severe brain damage often “hides” behind a concussion, which is why the victim must be urgently hospitalized in a neurosurgical hospital for examination and observation.

Signs of concussion:

• Loss of consciousness immediately at the moment of injury.
• Nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness.
• No evidence of a more severe injury (which may be evidenced by loss of consciousness for more than half an hour, convulsive seizures, paralysis of the limbs).

What to do if you have a concussion:

• Go to the emergency room or call an ambulance.
• The victim will be examined by a traumatologist and a neurologist, an X-ray of the skull (to exclude skull fractures) and, if necessary, a CT or MRI of the brain will be taken. In addition, you will need to consult an ophthalmologist (examination of the vessels of the fundus). These examinations will help determine the severity of the injury. In the absence of CT or MRI, M-echoscopy is performed.
• After confirming the diagnosis, the victim is hospitalized in the trauma or neurosurgery department in order to avoid complications and not miss a more severe injury.

Treating a concussion

What should I do if I have a concussion? The first aid to a patient with a concussion, if he quickly came to his senses, is to give him a horizontal position with his head slightly raised. If a person who received concussion , has not yet come out of an unconscious state, it is desirable to transfer him to a certain position (on the right side, head thrown back, face looking down, left leg and arm bent at a right angle at the joints). This posture prevents the patient from suffocating due to retraction of the tongue, ingress of saliva, vomit into the respiratory tract. If bleeding wounds are visible on the head, a bandage should be applied.

If a concussion has occurred, the victim must be transported to a hospital, where the primary diagnosis is being clarified. A patient with a concussion is prescribed bed rest for 1-3 days, which is then gradually extended over 2-5 days. If there are no complications, it is possible to be discharged from the hospital for outpatient treatment, the duration of which is up to 2 weeks.

Drug treatment

If there are signs of a concussion drug therapy is not required in most cases as the main treatment is rest and sleep. Drug therapy is mainly aimed at normalizing the state of the brain, eliminating headaches, dizziness, insomnia, anxiety and other complaints. Therefore, painkillers, sedatives and sleeping pills are prescribed. If the victim received concussion , in order to prevent possible complications, dispensary observation is necessary for a year with a neurologist at the place of residence.

Subject to the regimen and the absence of circumstances that aggravate the injury, concussion ends successfully – the patient recovers and fully restores his ability to work.