A trauma to the head can cause a concussion, but the symptoms are sometimes overlooked or thought to be something else. Because some of the symptoms don’t seem relative to the brain, many people look everywhere but their skulls for the answers. Oddly enough, it’s the symptoms that seem to have the least to do with the brain that are the signs of the most dangerous concussions. Those who receive any type of blow to the head should monitor for the symptoms listed below from the first hours to weeks later.
Change in Sleep Patterns
A concussion can cause you to want to sleep more, but it can also disrupt your sleep. There is no definitive answer to why fatigue is an issue because the brain is so complicated and everyone’s injury is different. In some cases, the brain cells themselves are damaged. In other cases, the fatigue may be a result of the brain trying to manage the other complications that come with the concussion.
Nausea
Nausea is one of the more dangerous symptoms of a concussion, depending on why it occurs. In some cases, the liquids in the ear can be disrupted, causing an off balance sensation that may lead to nausea. This isn’t usually a sign of immediate acute danger, but is still cause for close monitoring.
If there is no dizziness, but there is nausea, the problem can be much more serious. People vomit because the brain receives a signal from somewhere else in the body. The area of the brain that receives this signal is known as the “vomit center” and it’s normally triggered from somewhere outside of the brain. However, in some cases the center itself is damaged or swelling in some area of the brain is putting pressure on this center, inducing a nauseous state. Obviously, any kind of pressure on the brain is not a good thing, making this type of nausea a sign of an acute issue that should be addressed immediately.
Cognitive Impairments
While some issues are based on how you feel physically, there might also be cognitive impairments like the ones listed below.
- Random inability to perform daily tasks.
- Memory loss.
- Inability to retain new information.
- Confusion.
- Drastic mood swings.
The symptoms of a concussion vary from one person and injury to the next and are often falsely attributed to other medical issues. If you think you may have a concussion or you would like to learn more about the symptoms of a concussion, contact your emergency medical physician as well as taking preventative measures by contacting Ashenden Law.
