Concussion Symptoms That Can Go Unrecognized

Concussions that are unrecognized or are mismanaged put athletes at considerable risk of potentially catastrophic sequelae from re-injury. Repetitive head trauma from participation in contact sports such as boxing, football, and ice hockey can lead to a permanent decrease in brain function, including:
Memory Loss, Early Alzheimer's Disease, Movement Disorders such as Parkinsonism, & Emotional Disturbances. The Most notable complication of concussions are the second impact syndrome. With this syndrome, an athlete who is recovering from an initial concussion sustains a subsequent concussive injury, resulting in diffuse brain swelling and severe, permanent neurological dysfunction or even death.

The most notable complication of concussion is second impact syndrome. In this syndrome, an athlete who is recovering from an initial concussion sustains a subsequent concussive injury, resulting in diffuse brain swelling and severe, permanent neurological dysfunction or death.

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Standard Neuro imaging studies are typically normal; therefore, concussion is a clinical diagnosis. The most common symptom is headache. Other signs and symptoms include:

Dizziness

Nausea

Vomiting

Balance problems

Fatigue

Sleep disturbance

Sensitivity to light and noise

Mood changes

Difficulty with concentration and memory

Each concussion presents in a unique manner, and it is well established that a concussion does not require a loss of consciousness. Furthermore, a brief loss of consciousness does not provide any information regarding concussion severity. What clinicians need to remember is that if an athlete sustains a blow to the body or head and post-concussive symptoms subsequently develop, by definition, that athlete has sustained a concussion.

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