80 percent of people who suffer a concussion, will recover usually within two months. But that’s assuming they undergo proper treatment and care. And the best way to do to that is always to take concussions seriously and seek medical care for them.

Yes, Concussions Are That Serious…

And We Need to Start Acting That Way

By Christina Eichelkraut

The third Friday of every September marks National Concussion Awareness Day and our parent organization, the Brain Injury Association of America is a Concussion Awareness Now champion.

This year Concussion Awareness Day is on Friday, September 20th. It’s our job to start the concussion conversation right here in Arizona! We’ll give you the basics in this blog post, but check out our social media for more information and resources throughout the month as well.

Let’s start with some honest and straight talk.

1. Concussions are rampant in sporting events, and many athletes don’t feel comfortable acknowledging them.

There are a lot of valid reasons for this.

For years, athletes of all ages and competitive levels, from high school football players to professional boxing champions, were told they could just “walk it off” when they banged their heads. Other athletes may know they’re probably not OK but don’t want to appear weak or, even worse, let their team down.

The hard truth is that you can not “walk off” a concussion or mitigate its impact by “getting some rest.” Concussions are a blow to one of the most vital organs in the human body. In addition to being the engine that makes all your autonomous functions like seeing, breathing or moving work, it’s also where your emotions begin as neurochemical reactions. Your brain allows you to remember your best friend’s smile or how much you love your dog.

From that perspective, isn’t getting that hard bump on the head worth investing a bit of time, money and care? It is never an over reaction to see a medical professional after a blow to the head, ever.  

The good news is that many coaches, school administrators and professional sporting organizations are taking concussions much more seriously than they have in the past.

2. You don’t have to hit your head to get a concussion.

While many concussions are caused by a blow to the head, such as an object hitting one’s head or striking one’s head during a fall, a concussion happens any time the brain is injured by moving when it shouldn’t. That means a car accident that causes your head to forcefully move back and forth – even if your head doesn’t hit anything – can cause a person to become concussed.

A concussion is essentially a brain bruise. Being made of sensitive tissue and delicate neurons, however, if the brain bangs against the skull it will sustain damage, i.e. a concussion. That means concussions can also happen when a person is shaken violently, such as in shaken baby syndrome or when domestic violence victims are violently shaken.

Also, most people who sustain concussions do not lose consciousness. While losing consciousness is the symptom of a severe concussion, it is not the only indication a person is concussed. There are a host of of other symptoms that indicate a concussion, but regardless of the severity of the symptoms, getting an assessment from a medical professional is always the best course of action.

3. Concussion symptoms do not have an expiration date.

If a person is uncertain whether they have a concussion, it’s best to keep a very close eye out for symptoms for at least seven days after the incident.

Concussion timelines are not wholly predictable. Symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, or a newly volatile temperament can take up to 10 days to appear.

In about 20 percent of cases, a person may have post-concussion syndrome, in which concussion symptoms persist for months, or even years, after the incident. In some cases, what seem like “mild” impacts can become debilitating over the long term. Migraines, if they are chronic and persistent, can lead to job loss, for example.

That said, there are still 80 percent of people who will successfully recover from a concussion, usually within two months. But that’s assuming they undergo proper treatment and care.

And the best way to do to that is always to take concussions seriously and seek medical care for them.

ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA

The Brain Injury Association of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.

What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.