Mild Concussions

A concussion occurs as a result of a head injury, which shakes the brain inside the skull and causes a temporary alteration of normal brain function. Symptoms of concussion range from mild to severe and include loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, confusion, mood changes and vision problems.

Mild concussions are the most common, but they often go unrecognized because symptoms are so subtle and do not include loss of consciousness. If loss of consciousness does occur during a mild concussion, it is usually not for longer than 30 minutes. Still, mild concussions do cause damage to the brain and therefore should be handled with care. Any person who suffers a mild concussion or any head injury should be monitored closely for at least 24 hours following the injury to make sure symptoms do not worsen.

Symptoms of mild concussions don''t usually last longer than a day or so. If the injury is more serious than a mild concussion, symptoms will develop within the first 24 hours of the incident and may last for days, weeks or even months.

If more serious symptoms occur, it is likely that the injury is greater than a mild concussion. Warning signs to look out for include: seizure; unrelenting confusion or amnesia; difficulty speaking; blurred or double vision; dizziness that prevents standing or walking; symptoms that affect one side of the body more than the other side, such as numbness, weakness or difficulty moving; significant changes in the pupils; vomiting that continues after two hours; severe headache or stiff neck that worsens after the first four hours; abnormally deep sleep or difficulty waking up.

Mild concussions are most often sustained by children or teenagers during sporting events. In fact, each year, more than 64,000 high school athletes suffer a concussion while playing school sports. This number includes one in five high school football players. A 2002 study by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that developing brains of high school students are more susceptible to mild concussions than the mature adult''s brain, and can suffer irreparable damage if subjected to recurring concussions. Still, adults can also suffer mild concussions as a result falls, automobile accidents or other forms of head trauma.

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