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Concussion
Dietary considerations for mild concussion
Mild concussions usually do not show organic damage on a head CT; they are temporary functional dysfunctions of brain neural functions, typically manifesting as brief post-injury consciousness disturbances and retrograde amnesia. The diet for patients with mild concussions should avoid cold, raw, or strongly irritating foods, such as spicy dishes, and refrain from drinking alcohol or smoking. Their diet should primarily consist of light, easy-to-digest foods, high in protein and vitamins, but low in fat and sugar, including plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.
How to alleviate a mild concussion
Mild concussion usually leads to retrograde amnesia and transient consciousness disturbances in patients after the injury. Patients may also experience headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite, decline in memory, and lack of concentration. To alleviate mild concussion, it is important to first ensure that the patient gets adequate rest, avoids staying up late, and maintains a quiet environment. Secondly, it is essential to pay attention to the patient's nutritional needs, adopting a light and easily digestible diet. Thirdly, symptomatic medical treatment should be considered, especially if the patient suffers severely from headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, or insomnia. In such cases, analgesic and hypnotic medications can be used to relieve symptoms.
How long does it take for a concussion to occur?
Concussion is a mild type of cranial trauma, typically characterized by temporary disturbances in consciousness, such as a coma not exceeding half an hour, along with retrograde amnesia, meaning the inability to recall specific details of the incident. Patients may experience lower blood pressure, pale complexion, as well as symptoms like dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, tinnitus, blindness, lack of concentration, and memory decline. Most concussion symptoms appear immediately after the injury, and there is usually no latent period.
How to identify a concussion
The first patient has a history of head trauma. The second patient's CT scan did not reveal any substantive changes in brain tissue. The third patient may exhibit some clinical symptoms, such as transient consciousness disorders, typically lasting no more than half an hour. There is also recent memory loss; the patient cannot recall the incident. Additionally, the patient experiences self-reported symptoms of dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia, memory decline, and lack of concentration. With these medical histories, some CT scans, and symptoms, a concussion can be diagnosed.
What are the dangers of a concussion?
In general, as long as one follows medical advice, recovery from a concussion is usually quite satisfactory, and it rarely leaves any long-term harm. Short-term harm can result in the patient experiencing some very painful symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc. Such subjective experiences can comparatively make the patient suffer. For those who are emotionally excited or fragile, it may even lead to anxiety and depression, which are some of the recent damages. In the long term, some patients might experience a loss of memory, particularly short-term memory, which can also cause some inconvenience in their lives. However, overall, the damage from a concussion is very minimal, and as long as it is treated properly, there is generally no harm in the later stages.
What to do if you feel dizzy from a concussion?
Patients with concussion often exhibit signs of transient consciousness disorders and recent memory loss after injury. Some patients may experience varying degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blindness, and other clinical symptoms. If a patient with concussion experiences dizziness, the first step is to rule out the possibility of intracranial organic lesions through examination of the head and body. Then, the patient should rest in bed in a quiet environment with dim lighting. Additionally, symptomatic treatment with medications, including some that expand cerebral blood vessels, can be administered.
Symptoms of concussion
The primary symptoms of concussion mainly manifest as, initially, disturbances in consciousness such as patient comas, typically lasting no longer than half an hour. The second is recent memory loss, where the patient is unable to recall the circumstances of the injury. At the time of injury, the patient may also appear pale and experience a drop in blood pressure. Post-injury symptoms can include dizziness, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, poor sleep, reduced memory, lack of concentration, and even tinnitus among various other clinical manifestations.
What department should I go to for a concussion?
Concussion is a relatively mild form of traumatic brain injury, usually involving disturbances in consciousness and short-term memory loss, with patients unable to recall the incident. Symptoms may include a drop in blood pressure, pale complexion, headache, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, reduced memory, or lack of concentration. Long-term effects can appear three months later. Patients with concussion can be treated in neurology or neurosurgery departments, among others.
Is a concussion considered a minor injury?
Patients with concussion exhibit a brief disturbance in consciousness due to injury, which does not last more than half an hour. They also experience recent memory loss, meaning patients cannot recall the circumstances of the injury. Additionally, some patients may experience a range of clinical symptoms including headache, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, loss of appetite, lack of concentration, and decreased memory. The vast majority of concussion patients can recover with one to two weeks of rest. Furthermore, head CT scans of concussion patients do not show any organic changes. Therefore, concussions are generally not considered minor injuries.
What to check for a concussion?
A head CT scan for concussion usually does not show organic changes, as it primarily stems from temporary dysfunction of brain neurological functions. The main symptoms include brief disturbances in consciousness, retrograde amnesia, and some patients may also experience a series of clinical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. For patients with concussion, what we need to do is a head CT scan or an MRI of the head to rule out organic brain lesions. The second option is to examine the cerebrospinal fluid. The third option is to conduct an electroencephalogram (EEG) test.