What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. You don’t have to lose consciousness or “get knocked out” to have a concussion, but many times people will feel dazed or confused for a short amount of time.
A concussion can affect how the brain works. After a concussion, you might think, act, move or feel differently.
Common causes of a concussion are:
- Car, motorcycle or bicycle accidents
- Falls
- Sports
- Fights/assault
What are the common symptoms?
You may have symptoms after you have a concussion. These symptoms can start right away or days after the injury. Some people may have only a few symptoms and others may have more.
View concussion symptoms
Thinking/cognitive symptoms
- Forgetfulness, poor memory
- Difficulty concentrating, short attention span
- Feeling “in a fog” or “dazed”
- Taking longer to think
- Difficulty finding words
Physical symptoms
- Headache
- Dizziness or light headedness
- Blurred or double vision
- Balance problems
- Sensitivity to bright light or noise
- Ringing in the ears
- Problems hearing
- Fatigue, low energy, tiring more easily
- Feeling slowed down
Emotional symptoms
- Feeling more emotional, sad, nervous, worried or “stressed out”
- Feeling irritable, angry or frustrated
- Feeling overall “not yourself”
Sleep-related symptoms
- Sleeping more than usual
- Drowsiness
- Problems falling asleep
- Problems staying asleep
