Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by an external force that directly or indirectly damages the brain. It’s important to note that someone can suffer from a brain injury even if the accident didn’t involve the head. Mild traumatic brain injury, or concussions, make up 75-90% of all TBIs. Normally, most people recover from their symptoms shortly after the time of injury – however, subsequent concussions may take longer to recover from.

Symptoms of a concussion typically fall into four distinct groups:

Physical Symptoms

• Headache
• Blurry vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Sensitivity to sound or light
• Constantly fatigued or low energy

Emotional Symptoms

• Irritability or mood swings
• Sadness or depression
• Anxiety or nervousness

Mental Symptoms

• Difficulty remembering or thinking clearly
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling dazed or “in a fog”

Somnial (Sleep) Symptoms

• Trouble falling asleep
• Sleeping less or more than usual

Although most people recover quickly from a concussion, about 15 percent of individuals report prolonged symptoms, including chronic headaches, cognitive dysfunction and problems with memory, collectively known as post-concussion syndrome. If you or someone you know has recently been in an accident and experienced any of the above symptoms, stop that activity and speak to an adult or healthcare professional to get assessed. Diagnosis and treatment of TBI can reduce the effects of the injury and speed up the recovery process.

Sources

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017.

The Craniocervical Syndrome and MRI, 2015.

Canadian Family Physician, 2012.

Emergency Medicine Journal, 2017. DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2015-205429