Although concussions are fairly common nowadays, that doesn’t mean they are any less harmful to the brain than when they were first discovered. We know that concussions are most likely to happen to those who play contact sports like football or hockey, but anyone can easily hit their head hard enough to suffer from a concussion.
Well, what happens if you don’t treat a concussion? Not treating a concussion can lead to brain complications, especially if it is not caught right away. Read on to learn what a concussion is and what happens if you don’t get treatment for it!
What Is a Concussion?
We classify concussions as a traumatic brain injury, so you know it’s serious from that classification alone. However, as serious as they are, thankfully, concussions are not life-threatening.
A concussion is caused by some blow or hit to the head, which will cause the brain to bounce around rapidly. An injury to the body could also cause a concussion if the person’s head and brain move drastically and quickly.
During the injury, a concussion happens if the brain twists somehow or bounces a lot. These abnormal movements of the brain will cause the organ to stretch, damaging brain cells, and creating chemical changes in the brain.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of a concussion usually appear within a few minutes of the head injury. But sometimes, it can take a couple of days for any signs to show. If you have a concussion, you might experience:
- Trouble remembering the accident or hitting your head
- Trouble with balance
- A terrible headache that won’t ease with pain killers
- Feeling dazed
If you find that you are feeling these things, the best thing to do is go to the doctor as soon as possible.
If you suspect you have a concussion, there’s an easy self-test you can use. Close your eyes, and stand with your hands by your sides and your feet together. If you feel yourself tipping in one direction or another, this means your center of gravity is off — one sign that you have a concussion.
What to Do if You Think You Have a Concussion
If you are thinking, “Do I have a concussion?” you should see the doctor. If you have hit your head and are instantly feeling nauseous, this is a powerful sign that you have a concussion, and it needs to get treated.
If you go to the doctor, they will tell you how to treat a concussion. Usually, it is as simple as taking non-blood thinning pain killers when you get headaches or staying in a dark room with no stimulation for the brain — such as television, phone, or even reading.
Once you are feeling better, check in with your doctor again at your local services so they can assess you once more and give you an all-clear.
What Happens if You Don’t Treat a Concussion?
If you ignore a head injury — especially one you may think is a concussion — this can have lasting effects on your brain and life.
These effects can range from recurrent headaches to fatigue that won’t go away. More severely, it can make a person not as sharp as they once were, and they might have trouble focusing. All of these are significant reasons you need to treat a concussion as soon as you have symptoms.
Concussions
We usually talk about concussions as an invisible injury since the naked eye can’t see it, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less serious. If you have suffered from a head injury and wonder if you have a concussion, go to the doctor just to be safe. Hopefully, this article gave you useful information for the future in case you have a traumatic head injury.
If you liked this article, check out the rest of our articles on different body conditions and treatments!