Common symptoms of a concussion

In Louisiana, one of the most common types of brain trauma is a concussion. While these injuries may happen in any setting in which you may receive a blow to the head, they are most common in contact sport athletes and car accident victims. If left untreated, a serious concussion could be fatal. As such, it is important to understand what exactly a concussion is and what you should do if you suffer one.

The brain has the consistency of Jell-O, making it highly susceptible to damage. Normally, cerebrospinal fluid protects it from everyday jolts or bumps. But if your head is hit violently, the fluid may not be enough to keep the brain from slamming against the skull. This may cause bleeding in the brain which, if severe enough, could be fatal.

In teenagers and adults, there are specific signs of concussions. Some of these include headaches, confusion, vomiting, dizziness, slurred speech and a ringing in the ears. You may also feel like you have a migraine, feeling sensitivity to light and sound. As some of these symptoms could be delayed, it is important to vigilantly watch for them for a few days after impact to the head.

As you likely know, children are especially skilled at finding hard surfaces to knock their heads on. That’s why it is especially important to be on the lookout for concussion symptoms in kids. In addition to the above symptoms, concussed children may have sudden eating or sleeping habit changes, seem confused or dazed, be more irritable, suffer sudden poor balance or may cry more.

If you or your child has suffered a concussion, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible, even if it doesn’t seem too serious. It may also be a good idea to speak with an attorney if the brain injury was caused by someone else’s actions.