Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild form of brain injury that causes a temporary disturbance in cells caused by acceleration or deceleration of the brain within the skull.
What causes a Concussion?
A concussion is caused by acceleration or deceleration of the brain, following a significant impact to the head or elsewhere on the body. One common misconception is that someone must be hit in the head to cause a concussion; however, a significant enough hit to the body may cause a whiplash effect and result in enough force to the brain to cause a concussion.
What are symptoms of a Concussion?
A concussion causes the brain cells to become excited initially, followed by an extreme drop in energy. This may result in any of the following symptoms:
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Loss of consciousness (more than 90% of concussions do not result in loss of consciousness)
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Headache or pressure in the head
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Neck pain or whiplash
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Dizziness or vertigo
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Nausea and/or vomiting
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Blurred or distorted vision
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Balance problems
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Feeling tired, fatigue, slowed down, drowsy or having no energy
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Feeling “foggy” or not thinking clearly
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Not feeling right or feeling off
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More emotional
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Feeling sad, upset or angry
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Nervousness or anxiety
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Sensitivity to light or noise
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Difficulty concentrating
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Difficulty reading or working at a computer
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Difficulty remembering or concentrating
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Confusion
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Difficulty falling asleep
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Sleeping more or sleeping less
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Irritability
Visual signs of a concussion may include:
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Loss of consciousness
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Lying motionless on the field or ice
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Disorientation or inability to respond to questions
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Blank or vacant stare
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Balance, slowed movement, stumbling or incoordination
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Clutching head
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Slow to get up after a hit to the head or body
If you experience any one of these symptoms following a significant impact to the head or body, then you should have a high suspicion of concussion.
When in doubt, sit them out!
Can you prevent a Concussion?
No; however, research demonstrates that reducing contact in younger athletes can decrease the likelihood of concussion. Most concussions happen during a collision when the player isn’t ready for the impending impact. Concussion is an acceleration injury and embracing for impact and stiffening your neck may reduce the force transmitted to the brain. Therefore, having game awareness may help to anticipate hits or impacts, and allow a player to brace accordingly.
Research shows that helmets cannot effectively prevent concussions, but can play an important role in protecting the skull from fractures.
What to do if you have a Concussion?
Always tell a parent, teacher, coach and/or friend, if you, a teammate or even an opposing team member may have suffered a concussion.
The first 24-48 hours following a concussion are critical due to the potential for a more serious injury that may require immediate medical attention such as a bleed or swelling in the brain. Following the injury, the patient should be monitored for at least 3 hours for any worsening of their condition as this may indicate bleeding or swelling in the brain.
Immediately go to the nearest emergency department if any of the following signs or symptoms are present. These are known as red flags.
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Very drowsy or cannot be woken up
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Vomiting
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Drug or alcohol intoxication at time of injury
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Short-term memory deficits
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Seizure
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Decreasing level of consciousness or awareness
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Fluid or blood coming from the ears, nose, mouth or eyes
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Bruising behind the ears, black eyes or very tender points on the face
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Inability to remember 30 minutes before or after injury
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Unsteadiness standing or walking
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Dangerous mechanism of injury (e.g., struck by a car or falling down stairs)
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Slurring speech
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Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
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It is important that patients receive a proper neurological evaluation and management advice as soon as possible following a concussion as this can significantly impact recovery.
How is a Concussion Diagnosed?
Concussions are difficult to diagnose because symptoms may not be present immediately following an impact, and the symptoms are like those of other common injuries such as whiplash. Healthcare practitioners and all those involved in concussion care should err on the side of caution. If there is a significant impact and at least one concussion symptom, an athlete should be removed from play and assessed by a licensed healthcare practitioner with training in concussion management. When in doubt, sit them out!
A concussion impacts how the brain functions, and as a result, cannot be detected by MRI or other brain scans. Because symptoms often resolve before full recovery of the brain. Therefore, having a comprehensive, multimodal baseline test done prior to the injury can assist healthcare professionals in making an accurate diagnosis as well as safer return to activity decisions.