How to Treat a Concussion, Symptoms & Treatment

Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. We are in high potential of getting a concussion or see a victim of concussion because it can be caused by various reasons such as a hard tackle in football. The main cause is a blow to the head, face or neck. No matter what the causes are, we should have some basic knowledge about how to treat a concussion.

Evaluate the symptoms. If the person suffering from the symptoms as following, seek for the nearest accident and emergency department as soon as possible or call 911 immediately.

Be unconscious or unable to keep the eyes open
Have mental confusion
Feel weak on one side of the body
Be vomiting repeatedly
Have a very painful Headache
Have fits or seizures
Bleed from one ear or both ears
Have Long drowsiness or lost conscious for more than 1 minute

Before the professional help arrive, what you can do:

Keep the victim as still as possible in that place and avoid moving which may cause further injury.
Stay with the victim and keep asking questions continually if the victim is still conscious
Cool the victim’s head with ice pace or damp towel.

If the symptoms are mild, try to use the self-care techniques:

Stop the activity immediately if your concussion is caused during some sports.
Have a good rest. Rest is the best way to recover form a concussion. Get enough sleep at night.
Apply ice pack for 10-20 minutes to reduce swelling. Remember to wrap the ice with a towel first, as the direct touch of ice may cause damage to the skin.
Stay away with Alcohol and smoking
Take over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen to relieve the Pain. Avoid choosing aspirin or ibuprofen which may worsen bruising.
Avoid strenuous Exercise until you’re completely recovered.
Avoid activities that may cause physical or mental damage, for instance schoolwork, playing computer, video games.
Keep somebody along you in the first 48 hours after the injury.
If the symptoms worsen, seek professional help immediately