About Concussions

What is a concussion?
A concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is caused by a blow or jolt to the head. Concussions result in a disruption of brain function (e.g. memory, processing speed) and may lead to the development of several physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or sleep-related symptoms.

Because concussions affect brain function, rather than brain structure, neuroimaging devices, such as computerized tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will likely appear normal.

Do concussed individuals lose consciousness?
Only about 10 percent of people who suffer concussions lose consciousness, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

How prevalent are concussions?
Concussions are the most common brain injury in sports. Each year in the United States about 300,000 sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries are reported; the Centers for Disease Control theorize that thousands more go unreported.

How long does it take to recover from a concussion?
Recovery time varies from person-to-person, ranging from several minutes to days, weeks, months or even longer. Research suggests that children and adolescents need more time to recover from concussions than college students or professional athletes.

If properly diagnosed and managed, individuals who suffer concussions will make a complete recovery. The best way to manage a concussion is to rest, limiting both your mental and physical exertion.

What are common symptoms of concussions?
Individuals who suffer from concussions can develop several physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or sleep-related symptoms, including:

• Physical - headache, nausea, vomiting, balance problems, dizziness, visual problems, fatigue, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, numbness/tingling
  
  
• Cognitive - feeling mentally “foggy,” feeling slowed down, difficulty concentrating, difficulty remembering, forgetful of recent events or conversations, confused about recent events, repeats questions
  
  
• Emotional - irritability, sadness, more emotional, nervousness
  
  
• Sleep-related - drowsiness, sleeping more than usual, sleeping less than usual, trouble falling asleep