Every year, around 16,000 people are discharged from hospital with mild traumatic brain injury, and there are people who do not go to a doctor with their complaints. In most cases it is a concussion.
Concussion
Before we know what to do in case of a concussion, it is important to know what a concussion is.A concussion is nothing more than the brain being shaken up. Shaking of the brain usually occurs when a blow or blow is struck to the head. In the event of a concussion, the brain is not damaged (long-term). It is also possible that the brain is slightly bruised or that minor bleeding occurs. Both a severe and a mild concussion fall under mild traumatic brain injury.
Cause
A blow or bump to the head.
Symptoms
As mentioned in the previous article, there are severe and mild concussions. Both have the following symptoms:
- dizziness
- confusion
- nausea/vomiting
- headache
- drowsiness
- concentration problems
- bothered by noise and light
- temporary amnesia (not remembering what happened)
The difference is that the symptoms of a severe concussion last longer. Recovery is therefore slower than with a mild concussion. In addition to the above symptoms, the following symptoms may occur with a severe concussion:
- low bloodpressure
- perspiration
- temporarily numb body parts
- double vision
- speech disorders
- fast heartbeat
Therapy
The treatment will consist of rest and, depending on the complaints, returning to activities. Wake-up advice may be given for the first two days. This wake-up advice means that you should be woken up every one or two hours to see how you react. There is a chance that bleeding will occur . If you react differently than normal, it is important to get help.
What should you definitely not do if you have a concussion?
If you have a concussion, it is not wise to stay in bed. You may need more sleep, but it’s important to train your brain through activity. Drinking alcohol is also not wise because it worsens the symptoms. Driving, exercising and exposing yourself to a lot of light and noise are also not conducive to recovery.
What do you do when you expect someone to have a concussion?
When you see someone fall off their bike and hit their head on the sidewalk, there is a good chance that this person will suffer a concussion. In this case, there could also be possible skull or neck injuries. In this case it is wise to call 112 immediately and leave the victim alone. In other cases you can observe for 15 minutes to see if the condition improves. If this is the case, you can ask someone you know to take further care. It is important toseek immediate help in case of loss of consciousness that lasts longer than 1 minute, someone who is difficult to wake up, confusion, increased headache, vomiting, possible skull or neck injury.