Often unknown or overlooked, concussion injuries have serious effects beyond the physical symptoms they commonly cause. On the job, in the car, on the field or court, or in various other settings, people of all ages suffer head trauma of varying severity every day.
What Are Concussion Injuries?
Concussions are a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head or a violent blow to the head, neck, or upper body can cause the brain to slide back and forth, making contact with the inner walls of the skull. Such movement and contact can injure the brain, affecting brain function. Generally, the loss of normal brain function caused by these injuries is temporary.
Common Causes of Concussion Injuries
Working, engaging in recreational activities, participating in sports, or taking part in any other number of activities can cause movements or blows that result in concussion injuries. Some of the most common causes of this type of head trauma include:
Work accidents
Motor vehicle collisions
Slips and falls
Physical abuse
Sports injuries
When considering the causes of concussion injuries, most think of direct blows to the head. While such contact is a common factor, whiplash and explosion blasts can also lead to the type of forceful shaking of the brain that will cause a concussion.
Beyond the Physical Symptoms
Concussion injuries have ranging effects. In managing these types of injuries, many focus on the physical symptoms. People with concussions may experience headaches, dizziness, visual changes, and difficulties with balance, among other physical effects. Concussion injuries can cause other serious effects, however, which are not as easily noticed or attributed to head trauma.
Emotional Effects
After sustaining concussion injuries, people may experience emotional effects. These include changes in mood, irritability, anxiety, depression, or uncontrollable laughter or crying.
Emotional effects resulting from concussion injuries can have varying repercussions, both on people’s personal and professional lives. Due to emotional symptoms resulting from concussions, people may experience social withdrawal and strained relationships with loved ones. Further, the emotional effects of concussion injuries can also cause difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and other problems that impact their work or academic performance and productivity.
Cognitive Effects
Cognitive effects also commonly result from concussion injuries. Common cognitive symptoms of this type of head trauma include slowed information processing, memory issues, and difficulty concentrating. Due to such effects, victims may struggle with reading, comprehension, and completing job tasks or school assignments.
The cognitive symptoms of concussion injuries can also present safety concerns. With slowed reaction times and impaired judgment, concussion victims may have an increased chance of accidents while performing everyday activities, such as operating machinery or driving.
Sleep-Related Effects
In addition to emotional and cognitive effects, concussion injuries can affect victims’ sleep. Those who suffer these types of injuries commonly experience excessive sleepiness, difficulty sleeping, or waking up frequently throughout the night. Due to these effects, it can slow the brain’s healing, prolonging recovery. Additionally, it can exacerbate and amplify other symptoms, such as mood swings, headaches, dizziness, or concentration and memory problems.
Sensory Effects
Due to concussions, people also experience sensory effects. Such symptoms may impact the five main senses – vision, smelling, taste, hearing, and touch. Common sensory concussion symptoms include light sensitivity, visual snow, blurred vision, vertigo, and sound sensitivity.
As with other unseen effects of concussion injuries, the sensory effects people may experience can have repercussions on their personal and professional lives. Due to these, and other unseen effects of concussions, people may have issues engaging socially, fulfilling their duties at home, and performing at work.
Post-Concussion Syndrome
The physical, as well as the unseen, effects of concussions typically resolve within two to six weeks after the injury. Post-concussive syndrome is a condition that occurs when concussion symptoms last beyond the expected timeframe for recovery. Those suffering from PCS may continue to experience symptoms for months, or even more than a year, after the injury.
Studies have estimated that 15% of people who suffer concussions will have post-concussive syndrome, but there is no way to predict who will develop this condition and whose symptoms will resolve as expected. Risk factors make some people more susceptible to developing PCS than others. The risk factors of post-concussive syndrome include age, sex, having previous concussions or head injuries, having other brain-related conditions, or having experienced concussion complications.
When concussion injuries are caused by accidents resulting from the negligent or careless actions of others, those who suffer harm may recover compensation. A personal injury lawyer can review the circumstances of their cases, and help them determine their options for pursuing damages.
Discussion about this post