What is a Concussion and What to Do if You Get One

You may not want your children to play sports such as football or hockey because of the possibility that they will suffer a concussion. What is a concussion? What are its symptoms and signs, and what can you do if someone close to you gets one of these injuries? Find out more by reading on.

Around one out of twenty youth football players aged under 14 suffers a concussion each season.

What Is a Concussion

A concussion can be caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head. A concussion can also be caused when the head moves too fast after a violent blow to the body.

This sudden violent movement can cause the brain to bounce or twist inside the skull, causing trauma. Brain cells or neurons can be damaged and chemical changes may occur.

What Happens To The Brain After A Concussion?

One concussion is not usually permanent, but repeated concussions, particularly over the course of a lifetime, can cause structural changes to the brain. Repeated concussions may damage neurons, alter the way they communicate, and cause memory loss, concentration problems, and balance issues.

TBIs may also break the semi-permeable barrier that prevents potentially harmful substances, such as free radicals, from entering the body. Inflammation occurs to plug this gap when there is a “leak”. This inflammatory response may be positive in the short-term, but chronic inflammation can cause long-term damage.

Concussions can cause secondary brain injuries, including brain swelling, skull fractures, and even death.

Which Person is Most at Risk for a Concussion

Concussions are most common in those who play sports or engage in other activities which can cause direct blows or forceful contact to the head. Risky sports include boxers, football, lacrosse and soccer players. Children and the elderly are also at higher risk because they tend to fall more often.

Researchers have found that female athletes are twice as likely to suffer a concussion compared to their male counterparts. They may also experience a longer period of recovery. Stanford Medicine researchers found that certain people are at a greater risk of concussions due to a genetic predisposition.

Concussions affect millions of adults each year. They are caused by sports injuries, car crashes, falls, trips and slips, as well as domestic violence. Experts estimate that between 1.6 and 3.8 millions concussions happen in the U.S. every year.

Concussion symptoms

Concussions can be difficult to diagnose because they are never the same. Some common symptoms include:

Headache, or “pressure”, in the head
Nausea or vomiting
Double vision or blurred vision
Balance problems
Sensitivity of light or sound
Do you feel foggy, hazy or sluggish?
Confussion or problems with concentration/memory.
Slurred Speech
Personality changes

You may act silly, become agitated, emotional or think more slowly. You may take longer to answer questions, make decisions, or form sentences. A headache may also persist or worsen even after resting. You may also feel more tired and find it harder to get up.

What To Do If You Have A Concussion

Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that you or someone you love might have suffered a concussion. This is especially important if you experience any of these symptoms:

Loss Of Consciousness
Numbness or Tingling
Difficulty in swallowing
Extreme Lethargy
A strange sense of taste
Seizures
Feeling weak in your arms or legs
Rapid Heart Rate
Paralysis of any part of the body (e.g. one side of the face)

After being diagnosed, your brain will need plenty of rest to recover. In the past, experts have warned against sleeping after a concussion because they believed you might go into a death coma or a coma. Recent research has shown that it is safe to sleep with a concussion, as long as you are woken up regularly by someone to monitor your symptoms.

If you or someone else you know is suffering from concussion-like symptoms, there are several things you can do to heal more quickly, and naturally.

Sleep well.
Avoid any activity that may cause trauma to the brain.
To reduce inflammation and speed up recovery, eat a nutritious diet that is rich in antioxidants. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, strawberries and spinach are great options. Dark chocolate, pecans and other nuts are rich in antioxidants.
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid alcohol, drugs and other substances

Gradually return to your regular activities such as school, work, exercise, etc., when you are ready. Recovery can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, or even months. Be gentle. You could extend your recovery time if you do too much, too soon.

References:

https://www.brainline.org/article/facts-about-concussion-and-brain-injury

https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/providers/facts_about_concussion_tbi-a.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292164/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3574788/

https://www.nature.com/articles/nrneurol.2013.33

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/concussion/repeated-head-impacts.html#:~:text=A%20person%20with%20a%20history,recovery%20or%20more%20severe%20symptoms&text=Have%20long%2Dterm%20problems%2C%20including,such%20as%20keeping%20one’s%20balance

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672291/

https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2020/11/30/concussion-could-your-genes-increase-your-risk/#:~:text=%22We%20screened%20the%20entire%20genome,may%20be%20at%20increased%20risk.%22

https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_qk20dbwr#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20ways%20a,likely%20to%20suffer%20a%20concussion.

https://mosaicscience.com/story/men-women-concussion-cte-roller-derby-inequality-sex-head-injury-sports/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-you-sleep-with-a-concussion#:~:text=Medical%20experts%20once%20warned%20that,if%20they%20have%20a%20concussion

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4962567/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7510605/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20096093/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28208784/

The post What Is a Concussion? And What To Do If You Get One first appeared on Alternative Medicine Magazine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do we mean by complementary medicine?

Complementary Medicine encompasses any medical treatment that adds to the mainline. This covers treatments like acupuncture, aromatherapy and chiropractic care, homeopathy or hypnosis as well massage therapy, naturopathy, reflexology and traditional Chinese medicine.

Complementary medicines are not used instead of conventional medicine but rather alongside it. These complementary medicines are also known as “alternative”, “integrative”, or “integrative” medicine. They combine Western scientific methods and other proven therapies to heal people.

Which types of treatment should not be considered holistic medicine?

Holistic medicine is an approach to healing that looks at the whole person rather than just treating the symptoms. It helps people to recover from illness by promoting health and preventing disease.

Holistic medicine uses natural remedies such as herbs, homeopathy, and acupuncture instead of drugs and surgery.

Holistic medicine refers to lifestyle changes like exercise, diet and meditation.

Holistic medicine is sometimes called integrative medicine. This refers to the way that holistic medicine integrates all aspects (physical, mental and spiritual) into one comprehensive care plan.

Holistic medicine emphasizes prevention as well as early detection of diseases and encourages healthy lifestyles.

Holistic doctors believe in the possibility of multiple causes. Instead, holistic doctors consider the whole picture, including genetics, environment, lifestyle choices and personal habits.

Holistic practitioners focus more on the mind, emotions, and spirit than on the body alone.

Holistic physicians collaborate closely with their patients in order to determine the best fit for each individual.

Who uses alternative medicine?

Alternative medicine is used for many reasons.

They are keen to avoid surgery and harmful drugs.
They believe that natural remedies work better.
They prefer noninvasive treatments.
They want less money.
They feel more at ease using natural products
They desire greater control over their healthcare decisions.
They want to take responsibility for their health.
They want a healthier environment around them.
They want less stress in their lives.
They want greater freedom to choose their doctors and healthcare plans.
They want their child to receive a better educational experience.
They desire healthy food to feed their families.
They are looking for safe and effective medication.

Alternative methods are used by people with cancer.

Cancer patients face many difficulties as they try to cope with their illness. Many patients feel defeated and hopeless. Patients may feel pain, nausea or fatigue. They might also experience loss of strength, lack of appetite, or feeling helpless.

In addition, most conventional treatments are not effective against cancer cells. Cancer patients often seek alternative therapies such as complementary medicine. Research shows that nearly half of patients have used alternative medicine at least once in their treatment.

Cancer patients sometimes choose complementary medicine instead of chemotherapy because they think it will be easier to handle side effects. Also, they may prefer it because it costs less.

You can also use the following reasons:

Natural remedies may be able to prevent a recurrence, according to some patients.

Many people believe that natural remedies can improve the quality of life.

Some believe natural remedies can lower the chance of developing cancer again.

People who are worried about side effects of chemotherapy should consider natural remedies for first-line treatment.

What Is Alternative Medicine?

It is an approach to healing that focuses on prevention rather than cure. It encourages consumers to become educated and active in improving their well-being.

Alternative medicine refers to any system of diagnosis and treatment that does not employ allopathic (conventional) medical practices.

Statistics

A 15-year systematic review published in 2022 on the global acceptance and use of CAM among medical specialists found the overall acceptance of CAM at 52% and the overall use at 45%. (en.wikipedia.org)
category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

How To Deal With My Girlfriend Trusting Alternative Medicine?

The internet advises those dealing with a loved one suffering from mental illness. But there is little information out there to help when it comes to dealing with someone who believes in alternative medicine.

It appears that there is a large divide between the two groups. Both those who have doubts about traditional medicine and those who see the benefits.

What happens when someone believes there are other treatments for mental illness?

You might feel confused and frustrated because you don’t know how to respond. You might feel confused and frustrated if your partner tells you that he’d rather see an acupuncturist than his physician. Or when she suggests that she would rather eat gluten-free food than take antidepressants?

Asking questions is crucial. It’s important to ask them early. This will save you many heartaches later.

How can you ask him these difficult questions without making it offensive? What if your client says he doesn’t believe in doctors? Do you tell him he shouldn’t trust anyone?

What if she claims that antidepressants don’t work? Tell her that you don’t believe she’s right.

Here is where things get tricky. If you point out her error, it could cause you to upset her further.

You could also suggest she see a psychiatrist. This could lead to more problems than solutions. You may get mad at her for suggesting this. She might think you are trying to control her mind.

What should you do?

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If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you’re experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.

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By: Dick Benson
Title: What is a Concussion and What to Do if You Get One
Sourced From: alternativemedicine.com/conditions/brain-health/what-you-need-to-know-about-concussions/
Published Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:30:01 +0000