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Concussions are a major worry for athletes and the parents of those who play sports. However, they can impact anyone. Here’s how to spot the symptoms and help make sure that you avoid any complications.

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A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). It’s caused by a bump or blow to the head. Anyone can get the type of head injury that causes one. Those who play impact sports are at a higher risk, however.1

If not properly treated, the effects of a concussion can be serious and long-lasting. You may also develop cognitive, emotional and physical complications.1 While not usually life threatening, concussions do require a medical examination. Your treatment may include taking a break from sports and other activities, taking pain medication and getting plenty of rest.

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When to Seek Immediate Medical Care for a Concussion

man with eyes closed rubbing his temples

If you or someone you know believes that they may have a concussion, you should see a provider. While concussions often heal on their own, an evaluation is always important.

The most basic symptoms of a concussion are:1

  • Balance issues
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Double vision
  • Drowsiness
  • Feeling anxious, irritable or sad
  • Headache
  • Memory loss
  • Nausea
  • Sensitivity to light and noise
  • Vomiting

As infants don’t speak and may not walk yet, determining if they have a concussion can be difficult. Look for these signs:1

  • Crying when you move their head or neck
  • Dilated pupils
  • Drowsiness
  • Irritability
  • Seizure
  • Visible bump or bruise on the head
  • Vomiting

Younger children may get concussions by playing sports. Watch for these symptoms:1

  • Behavioral changes
  • Dizziness
  • Frequent crying
  • Headache
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Staring off into space
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Vision issues

If you or someone else has any of the following symptoms, get immediate care:1

  • A history of multiple concussions
  • Bruising behind the ears or under the eyes
  • Clear fluid draining from nose or ears (a sign of a skull fracture)
  • Convulsions
  • Difficulty waking up or staying awake
  • Increased confusion, restlessness or agitation
  • Issues with long or short-term memory
  • Lack of coordination
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Numbness
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Severe and persistent headache
  • Severe neck pain
  • Significant behavior, mood or personality changes
  • Sleep issues
  • Slurred speech
  • Trouble walking
  • Visual disturbances
  • Weakness 

When Should You Seek Medical Care for the Symptoms of a Concussion?

If you or someone you know suffers from a head injury, seeing a provider is essential. This is very important for younger children and infants. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should speak with your child’s pediatrician for any head injury beyond a simple bump to the head.2

The symptoms of a concussion may be quite subtle and may not happen immediately. If you or someone you know has had a head injury, watch for them to occur.

You should see a provider if symptoms last more than a few days. If you or the injured person have a history of concussions, a provider’s examination is necessary.

How Do You Diagnose a Concussion?

If you visit the emergency room or MedExpress, you’ll discuss with a provider how the injury happened, as well as what your symptoms are and their severity. You will get a physical exam, which could include a balance and vision test.

At MedExpress, we use a scaled cognitive test to determine if you need more advanced imaging (at a hospital or a specialist’s office) for your concussion:

  • If your symptoms are serious, you may need a CT or MRI scan to see if you have any brain damage.
  • If you have had any seizures, your brain waves may need to be monitored with an electroencephalogram.

What Tests Are Used for Concussion Evaluation?

Concussions happen more often in those who play contact sports. In the past, players didn’t properly care for their head injuries and often immediately returned to action. Today, there are standardized assessment tools that allow teams and coaches to take better care of their players and prevent secondary injuries from another impact.

Players should always report when they think they have a concussion, even if they worry about getting benched. Head injuries can become more serious if not properly treated and multiple concussions can lead to even worse complications.

Concussion evaluation tools include:

  • Standardized concussion assessment tool (SCAT): This test evaluates balance, coordination and the motor skills that are most impacted by a concussion.3
  • ImPACT: This test creates a baseline of your cognitive abilities and healthy brain function. After a concussion, ImPACT post-injury testing can help determine your care plan and when you can safely return to normal activities.4
  • Glasgow coma scale: This clinical scale measures your level of consciousness after a brain injury. It is based on your ability to make eye movements, speak and move.5

What are Concussion Management Guidelines?

woman laying on couch with hand on forehead

Each concussion is unique. However, these steps can get you back to feeling better:6

Rest

  • Avoid activities that can further injure you.
  • Get a good night’s sleep.
  • See your provider (if necessary).
  • Take a short walk outside or do light activities inside.

Light activity

  • Ensure that you keep getting good sleep.
  • If symptoms increase, slow down (you may need to contact your provider).
  • Return to work or class within 48 hours of your injury (if symptoms are manageable).
  • Start regular light activity.

Moderate activity

  • If your symptoms remain mild, increase your activity.

Back to regular activity

  • Limit caffeine.
  • Schedule a follow-up visit with your provider.

Other concussion treatments that can help you heal after your injury include:1

  • Avoid drinking alcohol until you are fully recovered.
  • Don’t drive a car or a bike until your symptoms improve.
  • Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Give your brain a rest by limiting the use of your cell phone, computer or TV.
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers to relieve headaches.

How to Determine the Severity of a Concussion?

Concussion tests rate the severity of your injury based on:8

  • Balance issues
  • Behavioral changes, like being irritable or sad
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Low energy levels
  • Memory and concentration issues
  • Mental fog
  • Numbness
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Sleep problems
  • Vision changes

The level of a concussion is also determined by how long your symptoms last and how intense they are. Your provider will also consider:

  • Any long-lasting cognitive impairment
  • How long you were unconscious after your accident

How Long Does a Concussion Last?

Many concussions heal within ten days. However. More severe injuries require longer rest or surgery.8

During the recovery period, you may experience:8

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • Irritation
  • Light and noise sensitivity
  • Sleeping issues
  • Trouble concentrating

If symptoms last longer than ten days, you may have post-concussion syndrome (PCS). You may have symptoms that last for weeks or months such as:9

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Memory problems
  • Personality changes
  • Reduced motor skills
  • Restlessness
  • Sensitivity to noise and light
  • Vertigo

What are Best Practices for Recovery?

Before returning to your favorite sport, make sure that you follow return-to-play protocols. They may include:

Individualized plan

As each concussion is unique, your provider will create a series of steps to ensure that you get back to playing when you are fully healthy.

Stepwise Return

If you are an athlete and have a concussion, you can follow the 6-Step Return to Play Progression. Each step takes a minimum of 24 hours and progress should be evaluated throughout each step:7

  1. Back to regular activities: The athlete can return to school or work. They can also begin the sports progression that will lead them back to playing.
  2. Light aerobic activity: Start with five to ten minutes of light activity to increase the athlete’s heart rate. Weightlifting should not be done in this step.
  3. Moderate activity: Continue with medium intensity activities like jogging, running, stationary biking and light weightlifting. The goal is to increase heart rate, as well as body and head movement.
  4. Heavy, non-contact activity: The athlete may add running, high-intensity stationary biking and sport-specific drills as well as return to their normal weightlifting routine.
  5. Practice and full contact: The athlete may return to full contact play in a controlled practice situation.
  6. Competition: The athlete may return to playing their sport.

Any player who gets a concussion shouldn’t return to sports without a provider’s permission. A second concussion before healing from the first one can cause second impact syndrome, which increases the chances of severe brain swelling.1

Want to make sure your favorite athlete starts the season as healthy as possible? MedExpress offers sports physicals, which may help keep your all-star off the injured reserve.

What are the Long-Term Effects of a Concussion?

If you have had a concussion, it’s important to rest and give your brain time to heal.

The long-term effects of a concussion may include:1,9

  • Brain damage
  • Changes in smell and taste
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Increased risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (ETE)
  • Increased risk of depression, epilepsy, psychosis and stroke
  • Mood disorders
  • Neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Post-traumatic headaches and vertigo

Think you or someone you love has a concussion? Don’t just guess. Schedule a visit online or walk into your neighborhood MedExpress from 8 to 8 seven days a week. We’ll examine your symptoms and help you with a care plan that will get you back to feeling better.

References:

1 Healthline. Concussion: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, & Treatment. Last updated November 20. 2023. Accessed June 27, 2024.

2 Healthline. What to Do for Concussion Care and Recovery. Last updated June 3, 2019. Accessed June 27, 2024.

3 Healthline. Concussion Tests: How, When, and Why They’re Used.  Last updated September 25, 2019. Accessed June 27, 2024.

4 ImPACT. Baseline and post-injury testing for concussion care. Accessed June 27, 2024.

5 Glasgow Coma Scale. Glasgow Coma Scale: Do It This Way. Accessed June 27, 2024.

6 CDC. Recovery from Concussion. Last updated April 5, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024.

7 CDC. Returning to Sports. Last updated April 4, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024.

8 Healthline. Concussion Tests: How, When, and Why They’re Used. Last updated September 25, 2019. Accessed June 27, 2024.

9 Healthline. Post-Concussion Syndrome. Last updated August 29, 2019. Accessed June 27, 2024.

10 Harvard Medical School. Concussion Consequences. Last updated March 4, 2021. Accessed June 27, 2024.

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