How Long Does A Concussion Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 3 months

A concussion would be an infection that causes the brain to move around within your head fast and unexpectedly. Depending on how severe the damages are caused in the brain, concussion symptoms can vary by several days and can go up to a few months.

Concussions are most commonly associated with head trauma, although they can also occur when a blow to the body is strong enough to force the head to move violently.

How Long Does A Concussion Last?

A mild concussion may not necessitate medical attention. The majority of concussions improve over time on their own.

Concussions that are more severe might last for weeks or months. “Post-concussion syndrome” refers to symptoms that continue after a concussion.

When the head or body is struck, the head and brain move fast, resulting in a concussion. It can cause confusion, memory loss, headaches, and even loss of consciousness in some people.

Although even “mild” concussions can have devastating consequences, they are classed as “mild” because they are rarely life-threatening.

Bumps, strikes, jolts, or impact to the head, as well as injuries to the body, can produce concussions.

The reasons that might cause concussion in the brain are:

1. Road accidents
2. Falling
3. Injuries or impacts from sports
4. Accidents involving bicycles
5. Beatings and other forms of physical violence

The following are some of the tools used to assess concussion:

1. Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC): A standardized tool for evaluating players who have suffered a head injury on the sidelines.Orientation, immediate memory, focus, delayed recall, neurologic assessment, and exertional movements are all included. There is also information on the presence of post-traumatic and retrograde amnesia, as well as a graded symptom checklist and a brief neurologic assessment
2. SCAT5 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool): It is a tool that assesses concussions in athletes.
3. SAC cognitive examination using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).: Balance and coordination are assessed.
4. Westmead post-traumatic amnesia scale (WPTAS): The Westmead post-traumatic amnesia scale (WPTAS) requires less than one minute to complete during urgent care.

A series of easy questions are asked, including the patient’s name, the location’s name, why they are there, the month and year, the town, the patient’s age, date of birth, the time of day, and photos for recall.

After one brain injury, any erroneous reaction toward any questions on the WPTAS is impairments of cognitive impairment.

Why Do Concussions Last This Long?

Some experts believe that the concussion caused structural damage to the brain or a disruption in the nervous system’s signaling mechanism, resulting in chronic post-concussive symptoms. Others assume psychological variables have a role in prolonged post-concussive symptoms.

When concussion symptoms remain longer than the normal healing period following the initial injury, this is known as persistent post-concussive symptoms or post-concussion syndrome. Weeks to months are typical healing times. Headaches, dizziness, and concentration, and memory issues are all possible symptoms.

Symptoms appear within the first seven to ten days and disappear within three months in the majority of persons. In certain situations, they can endure a year or longer.

Certain characteristics are more common in those who have persistent post-concussive symptoms than in those who do not, according to some studies.

Conclusion

Concussions take seven to fourteen days to heal, with an average of ten days. People who have had a concussion should not return to sports or other strenuous exercises for at least one week after the accident.

Avoiding a head injury in the first place is the only way to avoid acquiring persistent post-concussive symptoms.

Always use your seat belt when traveling by car.

When you or your children are bicycling, use a helmet.

Remove small area rugs, improve lighting, and put handrails in your home to help avoid falls.

Reference

1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09540260310001606692
2. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/197668