Overview
A concussion is a head injury that happens when your brain moves or twists inside your skull. Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury. They’re some of the most common (and most commonly misunderstood) injuries that people experience.
Almost everyone’s heard of someone “getting their bell rung” or “seeing stars” after a hit. Those phrases might make it seem like concussions aren’t a big deal. And it’s true that concussions aren’t usually life-threatening. But the effects can be serious and last for days, weeks or even longer.
One concussion usually doesn’t cause permanent brain damage. But experiencing multiple concussions over a lifetime can change your brain’s structure or how it works, which can lead to severe complications and increase your risk of developing serious health conditions.
How common are concussions?
Concussions are very common injuries. Experts estimate that between 1 and 3 million people visit the emergency room with a concussion in the U.S. each year.
They’re especially common in young athletes. In fact, concussions account for more than half of ER visits for kids ages 5 to 18 every year in the U.S.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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