Brain concussion

Brain concussion is an injury that affects all areas of the brain and temporarily changes its normal functions, such as memory, concentration or balance, for example.

Generally, concussion is more frequent after more severe trauma, such as traffic accidents, but may also arise due to falls or blows to the head due to contact sports. In this way, even light strokes on the head can cause a slight concussion of the brain.

However, all brain concussions cause minor brain damage, so if they happen repeatedly or if they are very severe, they can lead to the development of sequelae such as epilepsy or memory loss.

Cerebral concussion may also be accompanied by a contusion, which is a more serious injury and can cause bleeding and swelling of the brain, especially after serious traffic accidents or falls that are higher than the height itself. Learn more: Brain contusion.

Treatment for cerebral concussion

Treatment for cerebral concussion should be guided by a neurologist, since it is necessary to assess the severity of the injury. Thus, when the symptoms are mild and the concussion is small, only absolute rest can be recommended, avoiding working or doing other activities such as:

• Do mental exercises that require a lot of concentration, such as calculations;
• Watch television, use the computer or play video games;
• Read or write.

These activities should be avoided until symptoms diminish or even indicate the physician and should be added gradually to daily activities.

In addition, the doctor may also recommend the use of analgesics, such as Acetominofeno or Paracetamol, to relieve headaches. However, anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen or Aspirin should be avoided because they increase the risk of cerebral hemorrhage.

In more severe cases, where serious brain injuries such as memory loss or coma occur, for example, you need to be hospitalized for at least 1 week to maintain a constant patient assessment and vein.

Brain concussion sequelae

The sequelae of concussion depend on the severity of the brain injury, but the most frequent is that the patient does not present any sequelae after treatment. However, in more severe cases, sequelae such as epilepsy, frequent dizziness, constant headache, dizziness or memory loss, may occur.

Cerebral concussion sequelae may decline over time or require treatment to be controlled.

Symptoms of cerebral concussion

The main symptoms of concussion include:

• Constant headache;
• Temporary loss of memory;
• Dizziness and confusion;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Slow or altered speech;
• Excessive tiredness;
• Excessive sensitivity to light;
• Difficulty falling asleep.

These symptoms arise after trauma such as falls, head bumps or traffic accidents, but they can be mild and therefore often not related to the trauma, disappearing in a few days without needing treatment.

When to go to the doctor

It is recommended to go to the ER immediately when:

• Concussion arises in a child;
• Vomiting occurs immediately after the trauma;
• It happens fainting;
• Headache that worsens over time;
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating.

These are the most serious symptoms that should be evaluated as quickly as possible by a physician, however, it is always recommended to go to the hospital after a head trauma whenever the symptoms take longer than 2 days to disappear.