Any injury to the body can be frightening, but head injuries are especially scary since we can’t often see signs of damage. Many people don’t understand how to tell what’s “serious” and when and how they should seek help after a bump, fall or injury. Parents may not wish to overreact when their child seems to hurt their head. But they rightly don’t want to overlook a potential health issue.
Take our quick true or false concussion test below to see how much you know about concussions.
1) If you have a concussion, you will always have blurred vision and dizziness.
- True
- False
2) A concussion can have long-term consequences.
- True
- False
3) You must keep someone with a concussion awake all night.
- True
- False
4) Physical rest is all that’s need to treat a concussion
- True
- False
5) CT scans can show if you have a concussion.
- True
- False
6) Sometimes the symptoms of a concussion can mimic other ailments.
- True
- False
7) Helmets help protect heads from a concussion.
- True
- False
1) FALSE Concussion symptoms can vary. You may vomit, be very tired, show increased anxiety or even irritability. Nausea, dizziness, blurred vision and balance problems are other possible symptoms.
2) TRUE Damage from an initial impact can cause changes in the brain for weeks or months. This is one of the big reasons why it’s important not to have a second concussion during the healing process.
3) FALSE Sleep and rest are very important ways of treating concussions, after you’ve been evaluated by your doctor and given a plan of care. In the first 24 hours after your head injury, your doctor may want the injured patient to be woken up two-three overnight to check pupils and make sure that the patient is arousable and coherent. These are called neuro-checks and allow us to pick up any evidence of brain bleed or worsening mental status. If any of the neuro-checks are positive overnight (large pupil, confused, unable to arouse, vomiting) then the doctor will instruct you take the patient directly to the ER for immediate evaluation, treatment and possible imaging.
4) FALSE Mental rest can be just as important as physical rest. You’ll need to limit time spent watching TV, reading or concentrating – sorry, that means limiting gaming, social media and cell phones, too!
5) FALSE CT scans do not diagnose concussions. We may, however, suggest the patient go for a CT scan which can show if the patient has bleeding in the brain or a skull fracture. We use evaluation techniques like ImPACT® Applications and BrainScope® One to diagnose and treat concussions.
6) TRUE Simply not getting enough sleep or even dehydration can mimic symptoms of a concussion.
7) TRUE Helmets HELP reduce the risk of concussion, but they don’t always PREVENT damage from impact. This is why we hear about so many football players, for instance, incurring brain trauma. Helmets protect the skull, not the brain. When the brain smacks against the skull, symptoms from headache to severe injury and loss of consciousness can develop.
Thanks for taking the True of False Concussion Test! For more about concussion care and MAC Alliance click here!
