Concussion

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.