What You Need to Know About Concussion
Seek immediate emergency care if you have symptoms such as repeated vomiting, prolonged loss of consciousness, changes in behavior or obvious issues with mental or physical function after a head injury. If an athlete develops symptoms of a concussion during a sporting event, he or she should not return to the game, even if symptoms are minor. After a possible traumatic brain injury such as a concussion, the patient should continue to be monitored for several hours in case more serious symptoms emerge. If immediate emergency care isn’t required, it is still important for anyone who has sustained a head injury to be evaluated by a doctor. The Mayo Clinic recommends seeing a doctor within one to two days of the traumatic event.
Reviewed by:
Review Date:
August 29, 2014Citation:
University of Dallas Center for Brain Health, “Concussion” CDC, “Concussion in Sports and Play: Get the Facts” University of Pittsburgh, “Concussions” Journal of Head Trauma Rehabillitation, “The Epidemiology and Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury” Pediatrics, “Clinical Report--Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents” Mayo Clinic, “Concussion” Cleveland Clinic, “Concussion” Mayo Clinic, “Post-concussion syndrome” Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, “When a minor head injury results in enduring symptoms: a prospective invest Stanford School of Medicine, “Stanford Epilepsy Center” Mayo Clinic, “Epilepsy” Ohio State University, “How a Concussion Can Lead to Depression Years Later” American Academy of Pediatrics, “Children with brain injuries nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression” Center for Advancing Health, “Teen Concussions Increase Risk for Depression” American Academy of Neurology, “After a Concussion, Which Teens Will Have Emotional Symptoms?” The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “Facts About Concussions” Boston University, “Frequently Asked Questions about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy” Courtesy of Maxim Samasiuk | Dreamstime Courtesy of Yobro10 | Dreamstime Courtesy of Craig ONeal, via Wikimedia Commons Courtesy of Vesna Njagulj | Dreamstime Courtesy of Ellobo1 | Dreamstime Courtesy of Photographerlondon | Dreamstime Courtesy of Alexander Raths | Dreamstime Courtesy of Tyler Olson | Dreamstime Courtesy of Alon Othnay | Dreamstime Courtesy of Sebastian Kaulitzki | Dreamstime
Last Updated:
September 4, 2014