A concussion is when you suffer a sudden bump or blow to the head. You may receive a concussion, a type of TBI caused by rapid movement forcing the brain to move back and forth rapidly inside your skull from accidents or sports. The unnaturally abrupt motion can damage the brain, leading to changes on a chemical and/or cellular level. A concussion may cause brain injury that changes the way the brain functions, and when a concussion does not heal properly it can add to increased susceptibility of neurodegenerative brain diseases later on in life.
There are over 300,000 sport related concussions per year in the US. reported; and an estimated 150,000 concussions go unreported or even worse, unrecognized. Recent studies suggest that concussions result from football contacts to the head and even more seen in soccer with head butts to the ball!
Some of the main symptoms resulting from concussions are: headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, loss of consciousness, stumbling, increased confusion, sensitivity to light, dilated pupils, weakness in one arm or leg to name a few. If you or anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms it is vitally important to get checked!
Concussion Symptoms
While some of the physical manifestations of a concussion will show up right away, cognitive symptoms may not appear for hours, days or even weeks. Sometimes symptoms persist indefinitely, in which case a patient may be diagnosed with a disorder called post-concussion syndrome. With PCS, symptoms often fade and reappear in response to physical or mental stress. The syndrome can be quite debilitating and disrupt the patient's life considerably.
To help facilitate a fast, complete recovery, it's crucial to seek medical treatment any time you have a head injury, but especially if you experience any of the symptoms listed above. Red flag symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, uneven pupils, difficulty walking, repeated vomiting, and excruciating headache or seizures, requires an immediate call to 911 or trip to the emergency room.
At Newport Beach Chiropractic and Wellness, Dr. Gus addresses the upper cervical spine and locates any spinal misalignments that may have resulted from the concussion. If detected, spinal adjustments are used to correct and help align the spine for optimal function and healing. Dr. Gus also advises which supplements are vital for the brain to help facilitate faster healing of the brain and cognition.
Understanding Brain Injury, Concussion
