Concussions

What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of brain injury that occurs when the head or body is hit hard enough to cause the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. This can be caused by a direct blow to the head or a blow to the body that causes the head and neck to quickly rotate. This rapid motion can put stress on brain tissue, potentially harming cells and disrupting the brain’s normal chemical balance.

Concussions are commonly referred to as 'mild' brain injuries since they typically don't pose an immediate threat to life. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t serious. Every concussion needs proper care and time to heal.

What Causes a Concussion?

Concussions can happen to anyone, not just athletes. Common causes include:

• Falls (especially in young children and older adults)
• Sports injuries, especially in contact sports like football, soccer and hockey
• Car or bike accidents
• Getting hit in the head
  
  

In children and teens, sports-related concussions are one of the top causes. Wearing the wrong gear or returning to play too soon after an injury can increase the risk.

Concussion symptoms can show up right after an injury or take hours or days to appear. Common signs of a concussion include:

• Headache or feeling pressure in the head
• Dizziness or trouble balancing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurry or double vision
• Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
• Irritability or behavior changes
• Memory problems
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Sleeping more or less than usual
• Feeling anxious, sad or irritable
  
  

In babies and young children, look for crying more than usual, changes in eating or sleeping or loss of interest in play.
If someone loses consciousness, even for a short time, or has seizures, vomiting or trouble walking, seek emergency care right away.

How Concussions Are Diagnosed?
There’s no single test to diagnose a concussion. Health care providers use a variety of tools to check brain function, including:

• Asking questions about the injury and symptoms
• Testing memory, balance and thinking skills
• Checking reflexes and pupil response
• Sometimes using brain imaging (like a CT scan) if serious injury is suspected
  
  

Your health care provider may use a concussion screening tool to help evaluate how severe the injury is and to track your recovery.

There is no medicine to cure a concussion. The best treatment is rest and time.

Your doctor may suggest:

• Physical rest: Avoid sports, rough play or physical activities until cleared.
• Mental rest: Limit reading, schoolwork, video games and screen time.
• Sleep: Get plenty of sleep at night and take short naps if needed.
• Hydration and nutrition: Stay hydrated and eat healthy foods to support brain healing.
• Pain relief: Use acetaminophen for headaches—avoid ibuprofen or aspirin early on unless told otherwise by your doctor.
  
  

Most people recover in 1 to 4 weeks. If you’re wondering how long a concussion lasts, the answer depends on the person and the injury. Recovery is usually quicker for children and teens if they rest right away and follow medical advice.

Returning to School or Sports

Going back to school or sports too soon can make symptoms worse or lead to a second injury. Your provider will help create a plan for:

• Return to learn: Shortened school days or reduced workload while the brain heals.
• Return to play: A step-by-step program that gradually increases activity once symptoms are gone. You must be cleared by a health care provider before full activity resumes.

Following a return to play protocol helps avoid serious problems like second-impact syndrome, which can be life-threatening.

How to Prevent Concussions?
While not all concussions can be prevented, here are some steps that lower the risk:

• Always wear proper helmets and safety gear for sports and biking
• Use seatbelts in cars and child safety seats for young kids
• Make homes safer for children and older adults by removing tripping hazards
• Teach athletes safe playing techniques and the importance of reporting symptoms
• Encourage rest and reporting after any suspected head injury
  
  

When to Call your Health Care Provider or Sports Medicine Specialist

Call your provider or go to the ER if:

• Symptoms get worse (e.g., severe headache, repeated vomiting, confusion)
• The person has trouble walking, talking or staying awake
• Seizures or loss of consciousness occur
• Symptoms don’t improve after a few weeks

At Riverside Health, we're dedicated to compassionate, collaborative care. We provide a wide range of services, from childbirth to end-of-life care, delivering over 2 million services each year. Our integrated network allows us to support you seamlessly through health, illness, recovery, and wellness. With top clinicians and advanced technology, we’re here for you at convenient locations close to home and work. Visit riversideonline.com.

If you're experiencing symptoms or want to learn more about your treatment options, don’t wait to get treatment.

If you’re wondering where the best place is to get care, please see our guide below:

If your problem is life- or limb-threatening, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Primary Care – Schedule through MyChart or call your provider’s office who you go to for most health care needs.

Orthopedic Specialists - Schedule through MyChart or call 757-534-9988.
(804-693-0529 for Gloucester, 757-302-2700 for the Eastern Shore)

Sports Medicine Hotline – Call 757-534-6767, 7am-10pm, 7 days a week to schedule an appointment with a sports medicine specialist. Same day/next day availability in most cases.
If you’re not sure, call Riverside Nurse 24/7 at 1-800-675-6368