Identifying and addressing the symptoms of a concussion-Part I

Many people in New Haven, Connecticut, know about concussions. While in many cases, concussions are not life-threatening; however, as with other traumatic brain injuries, the effects of a concussion can still be very serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concussions are defined as a type of traumatic brain injury that impedes the way in which the brain functions. Concussions are generally caused by a head injury or a jolt to the brain.

In many cases when a person has suffered a concussion, a full recovery is possible within a short span of time. However, the pace of recovery is usually slower among older adults, children and teenagers. If, for some reason, the symptoms of a concussion continue for an extended period of time, especially in the case of older adults, children or teenagers, the situation should be considered serious. This also holds true for those people who have suffered a concussion in the past.

In order to explain the various symptoms of a concussion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prepared a matrix that takes into consideration symptoms in four important categories. Those four areas include symptoms that have an effect on the patient’s thinking and memory; symptoms that affect various physical abilities; symptoms that have an effect on the victim’s moods and emotions and symptoms related to the victim’s sleep patterns.

While some symptoms of a concussion appear immediately, other symptoms may reveal themselves after a substantial amount of time, once a person resumes a normal life and exerts more pressure on the brain in order to perform various activities. Although many people who have suffered a concussion may face certain difficulties or discomforts, that person is often unable to identify the symptoms of a concussion at the right time. However, with adequate knowledge of concussions, that problem may be resolved.

Source: CDC.gov, “Concussion,” accessed Feb. 17, 2015.