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Concussions
Dr. Erin Schaffer
C
oncussions can happen to anyone, from your favorite
pro athlete to your young children. That’s why it’s
important for players, coaches and parents to know
the symptoms and treatment protocol for them.
A concussion is a transient alteration and temporary
loss of normal brain function. We often hear about concussions as the
result of a sporting injury, but they can occur from any kind of trauma or
direct force to the head. A concussion can also originate from a force
that occurs elsewhere in the body and is transmitted to the head.
Symptoms of a concussion may vary from person to person. For many,
symptoms start immediately, but for others, symptoms may show up
minutes or hours later. Here are the most common symptoms to look
out for:
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Headache
Confusion
Dizziness
Balance changes
Sensitivity to light and sound
Neck pain
Mood changes such as agitation or depression
Blurred or double vision
Concentration issues
Abnormalities of the sleep cycle
Unfortunately, there are very few objective tests to diagnose a
concussion. Most concussions are diagnosed through an exam
performed by the health provider and symptoms reported by the
patient. A CT scan may be run in the early stages of a head injury
to check for bleeding around the brain, but this does not ultimately
aid in the diagnosis of a concussion. Neurocognitive testing is often
performed and can be helpful in diagnosing a concussion.
The treatment for a concussion often depends on the individual
patient. The most critical treatment is to remove the patient from the
environment of the injury, for example, removing a football player from
practice. A second impact too close to the initial concussion could be
life threatening.
It is recommended that the patient rest physically and cognitively. This
means abstaining from things like television, computers and video
games to give the brain a chance to rest.
Treatment may also consist of different types of therapy, like vestibular
ocular physical therapy, speech therapy and psychotherapy, depending
on the patient’s symptoms.
The prevention of concussions is tricky. Many people believe that a
helmet will help prevention but this is simply untrue: a helmet helps
prevent facial and skull injuries. The best prevention in sports is proper
technique and rule enforcement by referees and umpires.
In most cases, one concussion will not affect a person’s long term
health. Patients that don’t respond well to concussion treatment may
develop post-concussive syndrome. The expected time period for an
adult to recover from a concussion is less than 14 days and less than
a month for children.
If you are concerned about the possibility of concussion or want
to learn more about how to protect yourself or your kids, call Dr.
Shaffer at WHS Primary Care – Lakeside at (724) 969-1001 or
whs.org.
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