Caused by a bump or blow to the head, a concussion is one of the most common injuries that affect a wide range of Americans each year. It not only affects athletes like professional boxers, wrestlers, and gymnasts but is equally prevalent among weekend sports enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy contact sports like football, ski jumping, volleyball, basketball, and more.

According to NCBI, nearly 1.7 million people suffer from traumatic brain injuries each year in the United States. And approximately 75% of these injuries are concussions with symptoms like somatic and cognitive problems. Besides, people with brain injuries also experience behavioral issues. Although, these symptoms disappear within a few weeks; however, people of all ages remain at the risk of experience post-concussion syndrome (PCS), which continues to affect one’s life for months after the injury.

And, when PCS continues to affect a person for months after they receive a blow to their head, it reduces their quality of life to a great extent. It not only prevents them from returning to a normal life but also enhances their treatment cost.

In some cases, people with a concussion may experience its symptoms days after the injury, but that doesn’t mean that they should not seek medical help immediately. In other words, irrespective of the kind of brain injury you have, it’s necessary to get quick medical help to deal with it effectively.

Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of concussion

• Problem concentrating on any task
• Slurred speech, vomiting, and nausea
• Fatigue, headache, and confusion
• Temporary unconsciousness and sleep disturbance
• Unable to give a quick response to the questions asked
• Getting disturbed by light and noise
• Memory and psychological problems

So, if you or your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms after a brain injury, you must seek professional quickly. Although concussions are not that dangerous for you; however, you shouldn’t underestimate their potential to disturb your normal life. For living a healthy and active life, it is essential that you take every injury or illness seriously. Do not take them lightly because that attitude can affect your life in a big way.

So, whether you are experiencing repeated vomiting episodes or temporary loss of consciousness, you must take the right treatment to deal with it. If you fail to treat your injury at the right time, you will have to deal with its consequences.

Here’s What You Should Do Once You Get A Concussion

Visit Your Doctor

When you visit your doctor after receiving a brain injury, they will conduct a neurological examination during which they will examine your balance and coordination, reflexes, vision, and hearing.

Besides, your doctor will also check your strength and sensation. Apart from conducting a neurological examination, they will also perform cognitive testing during which they will focus on evaluating your memory and concentration. In some cases, they may also check your ability to recall information. In short, they will test your cognitive skills to figure out the intensity of your injury.

On top of that if you are experiencing symptoms like seizures and frequent episodes of headaches, then your doctor may also conduct brain imaging. It helps in identifying how severe is the injury.

And if the injury has caused bleeding in the skull, brain imaging will help identify it. So, if you want to seek a quick recovery from your problem, make sure that you obey the instructions of your doctor. Do what they say, and you will be fine soon.

Consult A Physical Therapist

Consulting an experienced physical therapist is a highly effective way of dealing with a concussion. Your therapist will address the symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, poor concentration, fatigue, and headaches, etc.

When you consult a physical therapist, they will evaluate the impact of the injury on the functioning of your brain in the first place. And after that, they will create a personalized care plan to meet your recovery goals.

Depending upon the severity of your brain injury they will use the best physical therapy techniques to address your problem. Your therapist may incorporate concussion therapy into your treatment plan to deal with symptoms like fatigue, chronic headaches, sleep disorder, and muscle weakness, stress, and depression, etc.

Concussion therapy is utterly helpful for strengthening the functionality of your brain. You will observe a significant difference in your health after seeking concussion therapy. All your painful symptoms will disappear, and you will return to your normal life soon.

Apart from using concussion therapy, your physical therapist may also include a variety of exercises in your treatment plan to improve your brain health. They will incorporate moves that can address symptoms like stress and depression.

According to Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation, “A brain injury requires immediate and ongoing care to ensure that the brain can regain optimal functionality.” It further says, “If left untreated, concussions can even inhibit growth in young children and bring on early dementia for older patients. Fortunately, the physical therapy field is continually discovering new ways to help patients suffering from long-term concussion complications.”

So, if you are looking forward to treating your problem without consuming any drugs, look no further than physical therapy.

Take Rest

Taking rest is also a great way of dealing with a concussion. When it comes to taking rest for recovering from a concussion, it means you have to limit the activities that put stress on your brain. Such activities include reading, working on a computer for long hours, and watching programs on TV. Besides, playing a video game can also worsen the signs and symptoms of a concussion.

So, apart from visiting a doctor and consulting a physical therapist, you should also focus on giving that much-needed rest to your brain by avoiding activities that can put pressure on it.