5 Concussion Signs to Take Seriously

Health care providers refer to concussions as mild traumatic brain injuries because they aren’t life-threatening. However, they’re still considered a serious injury. 

Concussions happen from a bump, jolt, or blow to the head that causes your brain to move around in your skull, injuring the nerves and blood vessels and causing a temporary change in normal brain function. 

You’re not likely to have any permanent brain damage from a single concussion. But it does put you at risk of permanent brain damage if you injure your head again in the future. You should get checked out by a health care provider following any type of head injury.

At Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland, in Midland, Michigan, our team provides urgent care for head injuries like concussions. 

Not everyone experiences the same symptoms from a concussion, and you may not know when to seek medical care. Here, we share some of the more serious concussion symptoms that require urgent care. 

1. Loss of consciousness

Most concussions don’t cause loss of consciousness. However, if you or someone you’re with hits their head and passes out, even for a brief period of time, you should take the injury seriously. 

Though there’s no specific test for diagnosing a concussion, our team can determine the seriousness of the head trauma and make treatment recommendations to promote healing and prevent complications.

2. Persistent head pain

You may expect head pain after hitting your head, but if the pain doesn’t improve or if it gets worse, seek medical care. Most concussion symptoms occur right away; however, some symptoms may not appear until hours or even days after the head injury. 

3. Clumsy movement or slurred speech

A concussion changes normal brain function, causing neurological symptoms like confusion, clumsiness, and slurred speech. Some people may even forget how they got hurt. 

If you or someone you love seems a little confused or dazed after a blow to the head, get it evaluated.  

4. Drowsiness or being unable to wake

Fatigue is a common symptom following a concussion. Some people may feel tired and have a tough time staying awake immediately following their head injury. Drowsiness and difficulty waking are signs that a concussion is serious and needs medical attention.

5. Ongoing nausea or vomiting

Many people feel nauseous after they hit their head and may even vomit. However, ongoing nausea and vomiting following a concussion are signs that the injury is getting worse. 

Don’t ignore the signs

You need to take these concussion symptoms seriously because it may mean there’s a subdural hematoma, which is a collection of blood between your brain and skull. A subdural hematoma can put too much pressure on the brain, causing brain damage.

Concussion symptoms vary and may change over time. You should monitor for these signs and symptoms for at least three days following any type of injury to the head. 

If you have concerns about a concussion or if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, we can help. Call our office or schedule an appointment online now.