Can you drink alcohol with a concussion?

Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

Updated on September 20, 2024

00:00

00:00

Patients with concussions typically experience transient disturbances of consciousness after injury, such as coma, along with recent memory loss. Some also suffer from various degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, insomnia, and other clinical symptoms. The diet for concussion patients should be light and easy to digest, avoiding spicy foods and other strong irritants, as well as avoiding alcohol, since alcohol can aggravate symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and insomnia. Therefore, patients with concussions should not drink alcohol.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Gao Yi Shen

Neurosurgery

47sec

home-news-image

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.

home-news-image

Written by Jiang Fang Shuai

Neurosurgery

50sec

home-news-image

Mild concussion sequelae

Mild concussions generally do not have any lasting effects. After a mild concussion, as long as one rests well, maintains a good mindset, and uses medication when necessary, along with symptomatic supportive treatment, the vast majority of people can fully recover within one to two weeks without any lasting effects. Only a few people, due to psychological and mental factors, may continue to experience symptoms that are difficult to improve for more than three months. In these cases, we consider these to be the after-effects of mild concussion, which mainly manifest as headaches, dizziness, dry heaving, vomiting, anxiety, insomnia, lack of concentration, memory decline, slow reactions, irritability, and a bad temper, among others.

home-news-image

Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

38sec

home-news-image

How to diagnose a concussion?

Concussion typically involves functional impairment of brain activities. His head CT showed no organic damage. The main clinical symptoms include transient consciousness disturbances and recent memory loss after the injury. Some patients may experience significant symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia, among other clinical symptoms. For concussion patients, the first step is to conduct a head CT to rule out intracranial organic injuries, followed by cerebrospinal fluid examination, and then an electroencephalogram test.

home-news-image

Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

47sec

home-news-image

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.

home-news-image

Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

43sec

home-news-image

How to alleviate vomiting from a concussion

Patients with concussions typically present with transient disturbances in consciousness and recent memory loss following an injury. Some patients may also exhibit a range of clinical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. To alleviate vomiting in concussion patients, it is essential to maintain ample rest and a reasonable diet that is light and easy to digest. Avoid consuming highly stimulating foods and alcohol. Additionally, eat smaller meals more frequently. If vomiting is severe, symptomatic treatment can be administered. Currently, metoclopramide can be used for intramuscular injections as a standard treatment.