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By Veronica Beltran

Concussions

TYH: Concussions, what they are and symptoms

Oct 6, 2020 | 4:57 PM

Concussions, you’ve probably heard of them before or maybe you’ve even experienced one.

A concussion is when someone experiences a direct blow to the head or body causing the brain to move inside of the skull. Concussions can occur for many reasons including things such as sports, a car accident or something as simple as bumping your head on your nightstand.

“You’ll start to feel fatigue, feeling tired, maybe some dizziness, some blurred vision.”–Christine Smith, Case Manager, Prince George Brain Injured Group (BIG)

According to Christine Smith, Case Manager at the Prince George Brain Injured Group (BIG), the symptoms of a concussion will differ from person to person. Sometimes symptoms can even include emotional ones, like inappropriate crying or inappropriate laughing, irritability and even anger.

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And the severity of symptoms doesn’t necessarily determine the severity of the injury, people with a mild concussion may feel more severe symptoms and those with a severe concussion may sometimes feel mild symptoms. The Centres for Disease Control in the U.S.A. estimates between 1.6 and 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions a year.

“It’s not the process anymore to stay in a dark room and be sedentary. We really try to encourage our members here at BIG to get some activity…don’t go out and run…but go for some quick walks. Still keep your brain active but within your limit.”–Christine Smith, Case Manager, Prince George Brain Injured Group (BIG)

Staying away from phones and computers is recommended when trying to heal a concussion. Most concussions heal within a few weeks time, however, with every concussion being different in every person, for some people living with the symptoms of a concussion can last from several weeks to even years.