First aid for a concussion should be provided immediately. Any delay threatens to worsen the victim’s well-being, as well as the development of a coma with the launch of physiologically irreversible processes.
Despite the fact that a concussion is considered one of the least traumatic types of brain damage, if alarming symptoms are detected, they should not be ignored. Only high-quality medical care will prevent serious consequences.
The danger is added by the fact that outwardly the signs of defeat appear rather weakly. A person who is far from medicine can completely write them off as a momentary malaise.
Unlike classical fractures of the cranium, which are accompanied by damage to the tissue and bone structure, this does not happen with a concussion. The good news here is the fact that brain cells often suffer little and recover quickly.
The emphasis is only on stretching the nerve endings, which provokes a somewhat slower mode of brain activity. Therefore, the first step is to call an ambulance to the scene, and then provide the victim with bed rest.
Causes of a concussion
Regardless of how specifically the bruises were received, they end with a blow to the brain against the inner walls of the cranium. The result is not long in coming, expressed in edema of varying intensity. It is puffiness that causes the manifestation of the leading symptoms of a concussion.
An external mechanical influence due to increased pressure on the head is capable of provoking such a phenomenon. This definition includes even everyday hits against lockers or while playing football. Sometimes this pathology is the result of a sharp fall or sudden braking of the vehicle.
In ordinary life, most often the victims of the condition are children of approximately school age who do not control their strength during various outdoor games, as well as elderly people who suffer from unsteady gait and often fall.
If you use the scheme of the main signs of a concussion, then it will be possible to establish it for almost any person. The sooner medical assistance is provided to the victim, the sooner he will complete his rehabilitation course. Even with stable positive dynamics, recovery will take about a week. The reduction of these terms threatens the development of complications.
It is impossible to predict how serious the consequences of ignoring an injury can be. It is believed that in the absence of timely medical care, patients in the future will not be able to cope quickly even with the simplest tasks. Such inhibition can be traced for months.
Also, in untreated patients, the risks of developing:
- alcohol addiction;
- Parkinson’s disease;
- sudden death.
In order to prevent a sad outcome, it is worth learning to recognize threatening symptoms and provide high-quality first aid.
Typical signs
The severity of the lesion can only be assessed by a qualified doctor. Residents are required to make only an approximate assessment of the condition in order to report on the patient’s well-being when calling an ambulance to the duty officer.
The most characteristic signs that it was the brain concussion that took place are called:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- dizziness;
- fainting;
- headache;
- violation of coordination of movements;
- noise in ears;
- split in the eyes;
- drowsiness;
- lethargy;
- poor pupillary response to light .
The duration of the above manifestations depends on the individual characteristics of the victim’s body and the strength of the blow. Against this background, a person is rapidly developing general weakness, lethargy and fatigue, due to which it becomes difficult for him to maintain balance and stand still.
Currently, concussion is not categorized by severity. The diagnosis immediately assumes all possible manifestations.
In rare cases, doctors fix dangerous symptoms not immediately after a direct head injury, but after about a day or two. During this time, the patient has to deal with:
- sleep disturbances;
- profuse sweating;
- pain syndrome in the eyeballs;
- regular flushes of blood to the face.
Do not assume that the deviation should be accompanied by all of the listed symptoms at once. Everything here is purely individual, since different people with an identical pathology will have different symptoms.
There are situations when outwardly a concussion does not make itself felt. But this state of affairs is not a reason to refuse a medical examination.
How to help the victim?
The first step is to call an ambulance, even if the person refuses, claiming that he is already better. Delay often pushes for subsequent difficult diagnostic measures.
But giving any painkillers or other medications before the arrival of doctors is strictly prohibited. Under the most successful set of circumstances, pharmacological agents will only blur the overall clinical picture. But in a more serious scenario, they will only harm a weakened body.
While others are waiting for the arrival of specialists, the patient will need to provide:
- cold;
- hunger;
- rest.
It is better to start with the last paragraph, which provides for the mandatory provision of bed rest in the safest possible environment. Moreover, it is extremely important not only to send a person to sit without unnecessary movements, but to move him to a horizontal position, limiting mobility.
It is recommended to apply cold to the head. The best thing for these purposes is a heating pad with ice water, pre-wrapped with a towel. If there is no ice on hand, a simple cold compress made of rags will do. The exposure time is up to 5 minutes.
It is also important to ensure that the head of the victim is slightly higher than the torso itself. Open a window to let in fresh air.
When at the initial examination it turns out that the patient is in an unconscious state, the first task of those around is to bring him to his senses. Having shifted the person to one side, it is worth going for ammonia. The solution is moistened with cotton wool, and then brought to the nose of the patient.
If a person constantly falls into an unconscious state, then it is better to leave him to continue to lie on his right side, bending his left arm and leg 90 degrees. The head should be directed towards the floor. This will ensure the full supply of air to the lungs, as well as prevent retraction of the tongue or suffocation due to uncontrolled release of vomit.
You can not give the patient any alcoholic drinks “for courage”, as this will only increase the already significant load on the cardiovascular system, increase blood pressure, and increase cerebral edema. In cases where outpatient therapy is indicated, the person is not allowed to return to their usual pace of life.
At the time of treatment, you will have to give up any physical activity, as well as not watch TV and not overstrain your eyes when working with a computer. If you follow such a simple rehabilitation program, you will be able to recover in about 2-4 weeks.
In some cases, for the final confirmation of recovery, it is necessary to undergo auxiliary instrumental diagnostics. It can be either computed or magnetic resonance imaging.
Basic prohibitions
In addition to mandatory first aid measures, experts have also developed a set of rules that are designed to prevent the development of complications.
At the beginning of the concussion, the blood first departs from the lesion, and then intensively rushes back. Because of this, edema is formed. Careless handling of the patient can only increase negative reactions and painful sensations. Against this background, it is better to lay the victim down in order to minimize the risks of accidental movements that provoke new bouts of pain or nausea.
It is important to ensure the flow of fresh air, as well as create comfortable temperature conditions. In the cold season, cover the patient, in the summer create a shadow.
The doctor can make the final diagnosis. It is likely that in addition to the suspected concussion, the victim will have some other problems that are invisible to the naked eye.