Hit your head? Get it checked.
No matter how you suffer the injury, seek care after a concussion.
By Dr. Beth McQuiston, neurologist and medical director of diagnostics at Abbott
Bumped in a fall. Knocked against the ground. Rattled by collision.
There are many ways to hurt your head. Most of the time you shake it off, tough it out, move on. You need to hurry to work, pick up the kids, make dinner. You don’t want to bother anyone or upend your busy life. Or maybe you’re embarrassed. Admitting you banged your head after slipping on a toy truck means swallowing a bit of pride, after all.
But you should think about your brain. When you suffer a head injury, there’s a chance it could be a concussion. A concussion, most simply put, is an injury to your brain. The brain is critical to all we do and plays a role in every aspect of who we are. Ignoring a concussion can lead to serious problems.
More than 4.8 million people go to the emergency room for brain injuries in the United States each year. The number of people who actually sustain concussions is likely much higher. More than half of people who suspect they have a concussion do not have it checked out, according to a recent Abbott survey.
We need to change that. It’s simple: If you hit your head, get it checked.
We’ve been hearing a lot about concussions recently because of high-profile sports cases. But just three percent of concussions that present in emergency rooms are sports-related, with the vast majority of concussions occurring during everyday activities. From the unexpected—a heavy object falling on your head—to the mundane—missing the bottom step on the stairs—they reach far beyond sports stars to children, veterans, the elderly or those impacted by domestic violence and beyond.
These invisible injuries can have long-lasting side effects. While some brain injuries require only rest and recuperation, others can lead to complications, including chronic headaches and memory problems.
That’s why you shouldn’t assume you’ll be fine after a concussion. If someone else took a spill and insists they’re fine, it’s important encourage them to get it checked. It is crucial for people to know the status of their brain after a potential injury, so they can take steps to keep this precious organ safe and thriving.
How do you know if you or a loved one has a concussion? After a head injury, watch out for symptoms like headaches, vision issues, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, exhaustion, sensitivity to noise or light, numbness or tingling, mental fog or concentration problems and changes in emotions or sleep. If you or someone you know feels off or is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is always best to seek care from a doctor.
You can learn more from Concussion Awareness Now, a coalition of roughly 20 advocacy groups Abbott and the Brain Injury Association of America launched this month to highlight the seriousness of concussion.
Bottom line: It’s not tough to tough it out. If you hit your head, get it checked. Your brain will thank you.
To learn more about head injuries and the seriousness of concussion, click here.
The content is paid for and supplied by advertiser. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content.
Content From ABBOTT & Concussion Awareness Now
