About Concussions

About Concussion

When you are hit on the head or body, your brain moves inside the skull. This movement can cause brain injury, such as a concussion.

A concussion is a type of brain injury. It often happens because of a hit to the:

• head
• neck or face
• body

A concussion causes changes in the way you think and feel. You could have a concussion even if you don’t pass out. It is always a good idea to have your doctor or health care provider check you.

It is also important to have someone observe you for a few days after you have injured yourself. Everyone experiences concussion differently and symptoms can take hours or days to develop.

Most people recover in 10 days to 4 weeks, but recovery times can vary. Children and youth typically take longer than adults to recover from a concussion.

Symptoms of a concussion

A concussion can’t be seen on routine image scans, such as an MRI, X-ray or CT scan. It is diagnosed by observing changes in the way a person thinks and feels.

Symptoms can affect:

• the body (physical)
• thinking
• emotions
• sleep

Get help right away if you have these symptoms

• neck pain
• double vision
• loss of consciousness
• seizure or convulsion
• vomiting over and over again
• headache is severe or getting worse
• weak, tingling or burning feeling in arms or legs

What to do if you have a concussion

If you think you have a concussion, stop what you are doing and seek medical help.

If you think your child or teenager might have a concussion:

• make them stop what they are doing
• stay with them
• get them to a doctor as soon as possible

If the person is unconscious, call 911. Do not:

• move the person
• remove any equipment, like a helmet or padding, in case of an injury to the spine

Treating a concussion

If you have a concussion, your doctor will monitor your symptoms and tell you when you can return to activities. Your doctor may also ask for support from other health professionals like a:

• neurologist
• physiotherapist
• occupational therapist

Usually, symptoms will go away in 1 to 4 weeks. If you or your child has had a concussion before, or there are other health factors, recovery may take longer.

Gender Differences

Research shows that females and males with a concussion have different symptoms. Their recovery is also different.

Knowing these differences will help health care providers improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Video: Applying GBA+ (Gender Based Analysis) to Concussion Prevention and Treatment

Concussion training

In Canada, only doctors and nurse practitioners can medically assess patients with a head injury. Assessments include:

• conducting a clinical history and physical examination
• ordering diagnostic tests as needed
• referring to medical sub-specialists

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