How To Prevent And Treat A Concussion

A concussion is the mildest form of traumatic brain injury. The injury usually occurs after a blow to the head or after whiplash causes fast shaking of the head and brain. Concussions cause an alteration in mental state, and some individuals may lose consciousness. Though the majority of concussions aren't life-threatening, they can cause serious symptoms and complications requiring medical treatment. The symptoms can vary widely from case to case. One prevalent myth is a concussion always leads to a loss of consciousness. While some patients lose consciousness, not everyone does. If someone is recovering from a concussion, they should be monitored for serious symptoms and take basic steps for self-care.

Avoid Physical Exertion

When recovering from a concussion, individuals will need to avoid physical exertion for a while. If individuals work a job that involves manual labor, they'll have to either take time off or get workplace accommodations that lessen the load. They also shouldn't participate in sports or heavy exercise. When patients do return to a regular exercise routine, sports, work, running, walking, and other forms of physical activity, it's important to do so gradually. They should first wait until they're no longer experiencing concussion symptoms, and then they can start with light, low-impact exercises like stationary cycling or walking. Patients may gradually increase the duration and intensity day by day as long as they don't have symptoms. If patients start experiencing symptoms again, they must stop the exercise and go back to their previous level. Some individuals don't experience symptoms until minutes or hours after they've finished exercising. Patients should always consult a doctor about how they can most safely return to their normal physical activity. They should also always pay attention to their symptoms and what their body is saying.

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Take More Frequent Breaks

The biggest part of recovering from a concussion is taking the time to rest. The patient's body needs to use its energy to heal and repair itself. If patients push too hard, they'll increase their recovery time, and could worsen their symptoms. Individuals will need to take more frequent breaks than they would in normal day-to-day life. This includes both physical activities like walking and mental activities like reading or concentrating. Patients should also take a break from whatever they were doing immediately following a concussion, especially if they sustained the injury in a sporting event. Going back to sports without resting can make their brain injury significantly worse. As with increasing their exercise level, the most important thing for patients is to pay attention to their body. If they notice they're tired or that their symptoms are worsening, it's time to take a break. Depending on the severity of symptoms, they might need to take time off work or see if they can schedule extra work breaks.

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