Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Concussion: What You Should Know
What is a concussion?
The brain is made up of soft tissue and is cushioned by spinal fluid. It is enclosed in the hard, protective skull. When a person has a head trauma, the brain can move around inside the skull and even hit against the walls of the skull. This can lead to bruising of the brain, shearing/tearing of blood vessels, and injury to the nerves. When this happens, it can lead to a temporary loss of normal brain function, also known as a concussion.
The signs of a head injury, such as a concussion, don't always present themselves immediately. Sometimes the warning signs /symptoms don't show up for several hours; sometimes even days later. Even what is perceived as a minor blow to the head can result in a serious head injury that, if left untreated, can result is life-threatening complications.
The following signs and symptoms provide a warning that your head injury requires immediate medical attention:
Difficulty remembering recent events or personal information
Severe headache, particularly if it comes on quickly and in a specific location
Severe stiffness in neck
Mental confusion or strange behavior
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness, poor balance, or unsteady gait
Weakness in arms or legs
Extreme drowsiness or sleepiness
Unequal pupil sizes
More emotional, irritable, sadness, crying, nervousness or anxious
Feeling slowed down
Sensitivity to light or noise
Have unusual Behavior
Are getting more and more confused, restless, or agitated
Sleeping more than usual
Sleeping less than usual
Trouble falling asleep
Loss of appetite
Persistent ringing in the ears
Blood or fluid discharge from the nose or ears
Slurred speech
Visual problems, such as seeing stars or blurred vision
Bleeding or clear fluid coming from the ears or nose
Convulsions/seizures
Perseverating (saying the same thing over and over)
Loss of consciousness
Someone who takes warfarin (Coumadin or any other blood thinner) for a medical problem and suffers a significant blow to the head.
Severe head trauma, i.e., a fall from more than the height of the person or a hard fall onto a hard surface or object with resulting bleeding or laceration.
Danger Signs in Children:
Take your child to the emergency department right away if they received a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and:
Have any of the danger signs for adults listed above.
Will not stop crying and cannot be consoled.
Will not nurse or eat.
The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be difficult to sort out. Early on, problems may be missed by the person with the concussion, family members, or doctors. People may look fine even though they are acting or feeling another way. Encourage children to report any of the above, and do not allow them to partake in a game or practice until a qualified medical professional has given the OK and they are 100% symptom-free both at rest and activity.
The American Academy of Neurologists has released the following Guidelines as of October 2010:
Recommendations:
1. Any athlete who is suspected to have suffered a concussion should be removed from participation until he or she is evaluated by a physician with training in the evaluation and management of sports concussions
2. No athlete should be allowed to participate in sports if he or she is still experiencing symptoms from a concussion.
3. Following a concussion, a neurologist or physician with proper training should be consulted prior to clearing the athlete for return to participation.
4. A certified athletic trainer should be present at all sporting events, including practices, where athletes are at risk for concussion.
5. Education efforts should be maximized to improve the understanding of concussion by all athletes, parents, and coaches.
Position Statement History
Approved by the AAN Sports Neurology Section, Practice Committee, and Board of Directors October 2010 (AAN Policy 2010-36).
For more information visit the CDC website "Concussion in Sports"
Disclaimer About Medical Information:The information and reference materials contained here are intended solely for the general information of the reader. It is not to be used for treatment purposes, but rather for discussion with the patient's own physician. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of professional medical care. The information contained herein is neither intended to dictate what constitutes reasonable, appropriate or best care for any given health issue, nor is it intended to be used as a substitute for the independent judgment of a physician for any given health issue. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. The major limitation of informational resources like Susan Mackey, DC is the inability to take into account the unique circumstances that define the health issues of the patient. If you have persistent health problems or if you have further questions, please consult your health care provider.
No Medical Advice.The information posted here by Susan Mackey, DC is not to be considered medical advice and is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. We may answer and post medical questions solely on our own discretion. We do not have the resources or the capability to answer all visitor questions. In general, the questions we choose to answer are (in our opinion) of value to other readers. The answers to these questions should in no way be considered specific medical advice or a plan for disease management. Our goal is to provide sufficient information so that Susan Mackey, DC visitors are able to become knowledgeable participants in their disease management plan. The primary responsibility of your disease management plan is with your treating physicians and you should only follow your treating physicians advice. DO NOT change/modify your disease management plan on your own without consulting your treating physicians.
The brain is made up of soft tissue and is cushioned by spinal fluid. It is enclosed in the hard, protective skull. When a person has a head trauma, the brain can move around inside the skull and even hit against the walls of the skull. This can lead to bruising of the brain, shearing/tearing of blood vessels, and injury to the nerves. When this happens, it can lead to a temporary loss of normal brain function, also known as a concussion.
The signs of a head injury, such as a concussion, don't always present themselves immediately. Sometimes the warning signs /symptoms don't show up for several hours; sometimes even days later. Even what is perceived as a minor blow to the head can result in a serious head injury that, if left untreated, can result is life-threatening complications.
The following signs and symptoms provide a warning that your head injury requires immediate medical attention:
Difficulty remembering recent events or personal information
Severe headache, particularly if it comes on quickly and in a specific location
Severe stiffness in neck
Mental confusion or strange behavior
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness, poor balance, or unsteady gait
Weakness in arms or legs
Extreme drowsiness or sleepiness
Unequal pupil sizes
More emotional, irritable, sadness, crying, nervousness or anxious
Feeling slowed down
Sensitivity to light or noise
Have unusual Behavior
Are getting more and more confused, restless, or agitated
Sleeping more than usual
Sleeping less than usual
Trouble falling asleep
Loss of appetite
Persistent ringing in the ears
Blood or fluid discharge from the nose or ears
Slurred speech
Visual problems, such as seeing stars or blurred vision
Bleeding or clear fluid coming from the ears or nose
Convulsions/seizures
Perseverating (saying the same thing over and over)
Loss of consciousness
Someone who takes warfarin (Coumadin or any other blood thinner) for a medical problem and suffers a significant blow to the head.
Severe head trauma, i.e., a fall from more than the height of the person or a hard fall onto a hard surface or object with resulting bleeding or laceration.
Danger Signs in Children:
Take your child to the emergency department right away if they received a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and:
Have any of the danger signs for adults listed above.
Will not stop crying and cannot be consoled.
Will not nurse or eat.
The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be difficult to sort out. Early on, problems may be missed by the person with the concussion, family members, or doctors. People may look fine even though they are acting or feeling another way. Encourage children to report any of the above, and do not allow them to partake in a game or practice until a qualified medical professional has given the OK and they are 100% symptom-free both at rest and activity.
The American Academy of Neurologists has released the following Guidelines as of October 2010:
Recommendations:
1. Any athlete who is suspected to have suffered a concussion should be removed from participation until he or she is evaluated by a physician with training in the evaluation and management of sports concussions
2. No athlete should be allowed to participate in sports if he or she is still experiencing symptoms from a concussion.
3. Following a concussion, a neurologist or physician with proper training should be consulted prior to clearing the athlete for return to participation.
4. A certified athletic trainer should be present at all sporting events, including practices, where athletes are at risk for concussion.
5. Education efforts should be maximized to improve the understanding of concussion by all athletes, parents, and coaches.
Position Statement History
Approved by the AAN Sports Neurology Section, Practice Committee, and Board of Directors October 2010 (AAN Policy 2010-36).
For more information visit the CDC website "Concussion in Sports"
Disclaimer About Medical Information:The information and reference materials contained here are intended solely for the general information of the reader. It is not to be used for treatment purposes, but rather for discussion with the patient's own physician. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of professional medical care. The information contained herein is neither intended to dictate what constitutes reasonable, appropriate or best care for any given health issue, nor is it intended to be used as a substitute for the independent judgment of a physician for any given health issue. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. The major limitation of informational resources like Susan Mackey, DC is the inability to take into account the unique circumstances that define the health issues of the patient. If you have persistent health problems or if you have further questions, please consult your health care provider.
No Medical Advice.The information posted here by Susan Mackey, DC is not to be considered medical advice and is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. We may answer and post medical questions solely on our own discretion. We do not have the resources or the capability to answer all visitor questions. In general, the questions we choose to answer are (in our opinion) of value to other readers. The answers to these questions should in no way be considered specific medical advice or a plan for disease management. Our goal is to provide sufficient information so that Susan Mackey, DC visitors are able to become knowledgeable participants in their disease management plan. The primary responsibility of your disease management plan is with your treating physicians and you should only follow your treating physicians advice. DO NOT change/modify your disease management plan on your own without consulting your treating physicians.
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