Is a concussion dangerous?

Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Concussion is not a severe brain injury and there is no need for excessive worry; symptomatic supportive treatment is usually sufficient. Typically, rest is advised, along with a light diet, regular living habits, and abstaining from smoking and alcohol. If necessary, treatment may include neuro-nutritive medications and drugs to improve microcirculation. Generally, symptoms should subside within one to two weeks. It is important to note that concussions occur after head trauma, and there is a certain likelihood of re-bleeding within the first three days following the trauma. After three days, the possibility of intracranial hemorrhage becomes very very low. Therefore, post-concussion there is still some risk, and it is necessary to closely monitor any changes in the condition, potentially requiring hospitalization for observation and treatment.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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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.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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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.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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concussion symptoms

The symptoms of a concussion must be judged according to the situation. Different types of individuals may exhibit various clinical symptoms, and not all symptoms described in textbooks will necessarily appear. Many will experience dizziness, headache, vomiting, nausea, and other related clinical symptoms; some may experience transient epileptic seizures, limb numbness and weakness, or speech impairments; some individuals might also experience retrograde amnesia, meaning they forget the events that occurred at the time of the injury; and some may enter a state of coma, lasting more than five minutes but less than half an hour. Therefore, these are all symptoms of a concussion, but not everyone will experience them, and some may also have additional symptoms, which should be assessed based on the situation at the time.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Concussions are classified into several types.

Concussions are usually categorized into several levels based on the severity of their clinical symptoms. Generally, the higher the level, the more pronounced the symptoms in patients. They can generally be divided into five levels. Patients with a level one concussion may experience mild consciousness disturbances, but these are short-lived and generally do not leave noticeable residual effects. Patients with a level two concussion might experience slight headaches and dizziness, accompanied by vertigo. Patients with a level three concussion show evident retrograde amnesia. Patients with a level four concussion experience mild disturbances in consciousness, manifesting as states of drowsiness, stupor, or coma. Patients with a level five concussion present with clear clinical symptoms, characterized by recurrent headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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How is a concussion diagnosed?

Concussion diagnosis usually includes, first, a history of head trauma; second, after a head CT scan, no significant substantive changes are observed, but the patient has experienced a transient loss of consciousness, typically not exceeding half an hour. Third, there is approximated amnesia where the patient cannot recall the incident. Some may show symptoms such as decreased blood pressure and pale complexion, while others can experience dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia, memory deterioration, and lack of concentration among a series of clinical presentations. Diagnosis of concussion can be confirmed through medical history, supplementary examinations, and clinical symptoms.