Concussions

Concussions When a patient enters the hospital for observation after a concussion diagnosis, it is important to explain to the patient and family exactly what you are dealing with.

A concussion is a form of a brain injury, and can involve interruption of a normal brain. If a head is hit hard, causing a shaking motion, it can cause the brain to twist orbounce. In most cases, it does not cause permanent injury to the brain, however it is possible that it could, brain cells could be lost.

Concussions are common in many sports, although many new regulations have helped to prevent some. There is danger for someone that has a concussion to continue to participate in sports. If the brain already has trauma, playing sports and risking another injury could potentially cause permanent damage. Although sports are a common means of getting a concussion, it's not the only way. Falls, auto accidents, and significant bumps to the head can cause a concussion as well.

Related: The Happy Side of Nursing Concussion Symptoms - A severe headache that starts immediately following the accident or injury. Or, a headache that develops weeks after a brain injury.

- Neck pain can also be a sign of a concussion. After an injury if neck pain develops this could be due to a concussion.

- Nausea, following a head injury can indicate a concussion that could be very serious and should be treated immediately.

- Ringing in the ears following an injury should also be viewed as s potential brain injury.

- Dizziness, severe or slight can indicate a concussion.

- Extreme sleepiness following an injury should be an indication to see a physician for a proper diagnosis.

- Concussion in a patient can present serious complications and should be checked out immediately.

In addition, more serious symptoms can include extreme drowsiness, or seizures, and muscle weakness. An MRI can rule outthe need for surgical intervention, and should be done as soon as possible. Following a concussion rest is imperative, the brain needs time to heal and regain normal composure. Physical activities should be very limited, and deep

brain stimulation such as problem solving etc. should also be avoided. After a proper amount of healing time that the doctor recommends, normal activities can return at a slow pace.

Patients that have a concussion should take extra caution to avoid a second one. A second concussion on an already injured brain can result in permanent damage; patients should be warned to follow all doctors’ orders.

Concussion Statistics - There are between an estimated 1.6 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions in the United States every year, many agree that sports concussions in the United States have reached an epidemic level.

- High school athletes sustain an estimated 300,000 concussions per year.

U.S. high schools with a certified athletic trainer on staff found that concussions accounted for nearly 15% of all sports-related injuries reported, which resulted in a loss of at least one day of play.

- For young people ages 15 to 24 years, sports are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injury behind only motor vehicle crashes. High school football is consistently shown in studies to be the sport with the greatest proportion of concussions, many of which go ignored and undiagnosed until it takes a more serious turn.

- In every professional football game, on average a player sustains s concussion. This leads to about 70,000 concussions annually.

- Approximately 50 high school students passed away as a result ofconcussions.

Related: September 11, 2001 – The Impact on Nurses When a patient is under you care, and has a concussion, make sure they understand the potential for a more serious injury if orders are not followed.

With so many young people suffering from concussions, it often takes a toll on them to be bed ridden and told to take a slower pace. Explaining the repercussions to a 16-year-old does not always help, so it's important to explain the need for rest to the parents.

Concussions can be life-threatening, and should be treated as such until the attending physician indicates the patient is in the clear, generally 6 weeks after the injury.

Related: Esteemed Nurse Julie R. Jeffrey, RN, is to Be Honorably Mentioned in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter