LIVEWELL MINUTE: Concussions
We all chuckle when a cartoon character gets bonked on the head and stars appear. It may be funny to see in a cartoon, but it’s not so funny when it happens in real life. Seeing stars, feeling dizzy or being knocked out after getting hit in the head are all symptoms of a type of brain injury called a concussion.
Dr. Marc Molis, Sports Medicine Physician says, ”Because the brain is very complex, every brain injury is different. Some symptoms of a concussion may appear right away, while others may not show up for days or weeks.”
Common signs of a concussion include:
- Headache,
- Dizziness,
- Ringing in the ears,
- Nausea or vomiting or slurred speech
“Loss of consciousness does not need to occur for there to be a concussion,” adds Dr. Molis.
How fast people recover from brain injury varies from person to person. Although most people have a good recovery, how quickly they improve depends on many factors. These factors include how severe their concussion was, what part of the brain was injured, their age and how healthy they were before the concussion.
Dr. Molis says, ”Individuals who suffer a concussion need to be seen by a doctor who is experienced with concussion management. Further tests may be necessary and will be determined by your doctor.”
