Recognizing the Signs & Dispelling the Myths of Concussions
It is arguably a damaging myth – pervasive in our society – that concussions only occur to those who are involved in contact sports, such as football. In fact, an estimated 80 percent of those who experience concussions incur them in another setting, such as at school, at home, on the road, in the workplace, or in a playground, and because many are unaware that they can occur in these settings, concussions remain dangerous under-recognized and under-reported.
What Happens During A Concussion?
Concussions are a form of traumatic brain injuries that occur when you hit your head or experience a jolt to your body in such a way as to cause that force to be transmitted to your head. As a result of the blow experienced by your head or any part of your upper body, the brain slams into the inside of the skull, and this causes microscopic tearing of neural connections in such a way as to change the way in which your brain works, forcing messages to find other pathways, and other parts of the brain to take over, so to speak, as a result of damage to other parts.
Special Vulnerability
Sadly, concussions also have lasting impacts – impacts that can last months, years, or even lifetimes: Children in particular can, as a result of getting a concussion, become especially prone to dizziness, fatigue, sensitivity to noise, attention deficit issues, sleep issues, and more negative consequences. Children, adolescents, and women reportedly take longer to recover from a concussion, where even a single, minor knock can diminish an individual’s quality of life in lasting ways.
Recognizing the Signs
Some experts estimate that 20 to 50 percent of those who have a concussion can end up being affected by post- or persistent post-concussion symptoms. These same experts suggest focusing on the “Big Five” signs in detecting concussions, which can reportedly be observed at the time the head or body is impacted, including appearing confused, being slow to move, speak, and respond, lying motionless, and/or being wobbly on their feet.
Additional indicators of someone experiencing a concussion can include the following:
- Anxiety, depression, irritability
- Brain fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Memory problems
- Ongoing headaches
- Sensitivity to light and/or noise
- Sleep disturbances
What To Do: Obtain Medical Care & Contact Our Macon, Georgia Brain Injury Attorneys
If you or a loved one fear that you may have suffered a concussion, it is critical to obtain medical advice right away in order to ensure that a proper professional is evaluating you or your loved one for potential symptoms, including a potential brain bleed or skull fracture. The emotional toll of experiencing one or more concussions can be severe, and you want to ensure that the issue is addressed right away.
If you have any questions related to concessions incurred as a result of negligence, contact the Macon, Georgia personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Buzzell, Welsh & Hill right away to find out how we can be of assistance during this trying time.
Source:
abc.net.au/news/health/2023-10-22/post-concussion-syndrome-community-lasting-effects/102587172
