First aid for concussion
Content:
- Causes and symptoms of concussion
- The first signs of a concussion
- What first aid should be provided?
A concussion is considered one of the mildest forms of brain damage. With such dangerous injuries, there are most often no external signs. That is, the soft tissues and bones of the skull are not damaged, so this condition is considered less dangerous. It does not cause significant disturbances in the structure of the brain. Its cells are practically not damaged. Only the nerve endings are stretched, so the brain can perform some functions in a slightly slower mode.
Causes and symptoms of concussion
The brain hits the inner walls of the skull. As a result, ordinary edema occurs, which causes the manifestation of the main signs of concussion. Any even the smallest blow or injury can be the cause. In most cases, this is due to serious traffic accidents or criminal incidents. Less commonly due to various sports or work injuries.
But it is not always possible to get a concussion just by hitting your head hard. It can be caused by a sharp fall to the ground or ice, and, in the event of an accident, with a sudden start or braking. Children, especially those of school age, get concussion very often. They take part in games and do not always think about any consequences.
Therefore, you need to remember the first signs of a concussion. If they appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Timely treatment can help after a couple of weeks, otherwise it can cause complications.
The areas of the brain have not yet been fully explored, so many controversial points remain. But most doctors are of the opinion that patients who did not receive timely medical attention for a concussion spent more time for a long time on even the simplest tasks. This can often lead to disability. Also, patients with such an injury have an increased risk of alcoholism, Parkinson's disease and the likelihood of sudden death.
The first signs of a concussion
Only a doctor can assess the severity of a concussion. It is possible that the victim will need hospitalization. But it is possible to identify the receipt of this injury by several symptoms. Firstly, immediately after injury, a strong feeling of nausea may occur, even vomiting may occur.
Secondly, there is dizziness, loss of consciousness, or a significant lack of coordination. The duration of such unpleasant symptoms directly depends on various characteristics of the body. Thirdly, lethargy, weakness, in which it is difficult for the patient to stand. It can be accompanied by tinnitus and split eyes. Fourth, it is worth checking the reaction of the eyes to light. If the pupils react sluggishly, then the degree of concussion is small, if their reaction is absent, this indicates a severe degree.
It is possible that these signs may not appear immediately, but even on the third day, so it is important to observe the patient. Concussion is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, sweating, pain in the eyeballs, or flushing of the face. Not all or none of the symptoms are necessary. Signs of a concussion may even disappear after a while. But this does not mean that everything went away on its own, the symptoms just disappeared, and the problem remained.
What first aid should be given to the victim?
You should immediately see a doctor. Delay can make it difficult to diagnose, at best. At worst, it can cause complications. The doctor should talk in detail about how the injury occurred and about all the symptoms he saw. This will help you better imagine the extent of the brain damage.
Until qualified assistance has been provided to the patient, it is worth understanding how to facilitate the victim's time before the medical examination. Remember a short rule: cold, hunger and calm. A person should not be drastically moved, it is highly undesirable to transport without medical supervision. It is also extremely undesirable to feed and drink, and even more so to give any modern medications. You should put something cold on your head (for example, food from the freezer or a towel dipped in cold water).
It is desirable for the patient to be in a state of complete rest. It is best to move him to the bed, on a pillow, so that his head is slightly higher than the body. It is worth opening the window so that fresh air can flow to the victim. If a person is unconscious, he must be put on his right side, his left arm and leg are bent at ninety degrees. The head should be directed towards the ground. In this position, air enters the lungs better. And, in case of vomiting, the patient will not choke.
During the rehabilitation period, the patient should be in a state of complete rest. It is necessary to exclude any physical activity. It is contraindicated to take any alcoholic tinctures, this can aggravate the condition. It is also not recommended to watch TV, listen to music, use a laptop, mobile phone and tablet.
If you follow all the doctor's instructions, the symptoms completely disappear after 3-12 months, depending on the degree of injury. In any case, it is worth conducting an additional analysis to avoid possible complications in case of incomplete recovery.
The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist
Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003 he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.
