How to Recognize When to Seek Medical Attention for a Concussion

While the symptoms of milder concussions will generally subside on their own without any lasting effects, more serious cases of concussion will require medical attention. If you or someone you know has suffered a head injury, monitor the person closely to recognize the development of lasting symptoms that point to the possibility of a serious concussion.

Things You'll Need

• Physician

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Instructions

• 1

  Try not to worry too much if the concussion symptoms are mild, such as confusion, disorientation and temporarily slurred speech. These will generally abate on their own, and can be treated using over-the-counter painkillers, rest and avoidance of strenuous physical activity until symptoms disappear completely.

• 2

  Watch the site of the injury to see if any bruising develops. While it is generally held that bruises on the front of the head are not as serious as bruises on the back of the head or the sides, any bruising should be considered serious.

• 3

  Speak to a doctor when chronic headaches or dizziness develop in the days following the head injury. Typically, these symptoms will not respond well to conventional treatment using painkillers or over-the-counter anti-nausea treatments. This is a signal of lasting effects that may potentially lead to complications down the road if left untreated.

• 4

  Consider severe nausea or vomiting that results from a head injury to be a sign that immediate medical attention should be sought.

• 5

  Identify any neurological disturbances that develop following the head injury. Symptoms such as loss of balance or disrupted vision should be discussed with a doctor as soon as possible.

• 6

  Perform simple tests to check the victim's memory. Recognize that a sluggish memory or, worse, memory loss, is just cause to seek the advice of a doctor.

• 7

  Seek medical attention for the victim when symptoms also include a loss of the senses of smell and/or taste. Recognize that these symptoms could mean a severe brain injury has been suffered.