How to Prevent a Concussion

One of the most effective ways of keeping your brain healthy is to prevent injury in the first place.

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump, blow or sudden jolt to the head.Concussions can range from mild to severe and can interrupt the normal functioning of the brain. There are several ways to prevent a concussion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

– Wear a seat belt whenever you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.

– Buckle your children safely in your vehicle by using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt, depending on the recommended safety practice for your child’s age and weight.

– Wear a helmet whenever you ride a bike, motorcycle or use any other recreational type vehicle

– Wear a helmet when you play a contact sport such as soccer, football, hockey, lacrosse or boxing

– Wear a helmet when your use roller skates or ice skates

– Wear a helmet when you play baseball or softball

– Wear a helmet when you ride a horse

– Wear a helmet when you ski, sled or snowboard

– Use the right protection for any sport you participate in and follow the safety rules.

There are many signs and symptoms of a concussion following a blow to the head, including:

– Difficulty thinking clearly
– Feeling slowed down
– Difficulty concentrating
– Difficulty following a conversation or directions
– Answering questions slowly or repeatedly
– Feeling dazed or stunned

– A headache
– Nausea or vomiting
– Clumsiness or balance problems
– Dizziness
– Blurred vision
– Feeling tired all the time or having no energy
– Sensitivity to light
– Sensitivity to noise

If you notice you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor. Describe the injury and the symptoms and make an appointment to be seen right away. If the injury causes bleeding in the brain, a person could die from pressure put on the brain stem.

Most people only experience the symptoms of a concussion for a brief period of time. However some concussions can lead to long term problems.