Signs You Almost Certainly Have Concussion (Even If You Think You Don’t)

It can be easy to ignore a knock to the head, but you shouldn’t. In fact, this past Christmas, I was packing Christmas gifts into the car… I wasn’t thinking, and boom, I hit my head with the car… so hard, I felt my whole world spinning. I knew something was not right, when I wasn’t able to see clearly, with my glasses on. A concussion is a potentially life-threatening injury, so you should investigate any head impact, even a silly one.

Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain bashes against the inside of the skull. When this happens, it damages the brain and changes its internal chemistry, potentially putting your life at risk. 

Many people say that they feel fine after a head injury, only to collapse minutes or hours later. 

Because concussion is so dangerous, any payout for a head injury is likely to be high. The risks are incredibly severe, so the law is generally on your side. 

In this post, we take a look at some of the signs of concussion. If you think you have any of them, seek medical attention immediately. 

Double Vision
Double vision is among the most common symptoms of concussion. It happens when the brain is no longer able to interpret information from the optic nerve in the usual way. Images from each eye look superimposed on each other, instead of melding together as one. 

Ringing In The Ears
Another common sign is ringing in the ears, or acute tinnitus. Typically, this happens when the brain begins to hallucinate sounds. It can also occur because of disruption of the sensitive machinery in the inner ear. 

Loss Of Taste And Smell
Even more seriously, you may lose your sense of taste and smell. This occurs when regions of the brain responsible for these senses begin to shut down and no longer function. In extreme concussions, they may even die off. 

Vomiting
If you’re vomiting and don’t have a stomach bug, it is another sign of serious concussion. Usually, this occurs because the body is in a high state of stress. The brain can detect a threat, but it is not sure what it is precisely. For this reason, it can activate the stomach and cause the affected person to bring up bile. 

Headache
If you have a persistent headache that just won’t go away, it could indicate an oxygen supply issue in the brain. These are potentially fatal, so you’ll want to go for a checkup as early as you can. 

Trouble Remembering Things
Concussions can impact cognitive performance significantly. When the brain bounces off the inside of the skull, it affects its capacity to digest and compute information. 

If you are having trouble remembering things after a head injury, that’s a sign that you should seek medical attention. Often, if you are having memory issues, other people around you will be able to tell you. 

Sensitivity To Light
Sometimes concussions manifest as a sensitivity to light. You might find it hard to go outside on a sunny day or sit comfortably under bright LED lighting. 

Dizziness
As you might expect, dizziness is also a sign of concussion. It usually happens when an impact disrupts the fluid in your inner ear. If your proprioception feels a little off, go to your physician for a checkup.

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Mavian Arocha-Rowe

Mavian Arocha-Rowe

Editor-in-Chief at Chispa Magazine
Mavian Arocha-Rowe is known as an asset to the business and communications industry and is motivating and advocating “your authenticity should be your strategy,” for all women, regardless of their season and roles. For the past 20 years she has directed magazines, plus multiple art and marketing departments as creative director and brand manager. What supersedes all of her great career moves is her role as wife and mother living in Atlanta. Challenging herself to discover and bravely pursue the calling for her life, Arocha-Rowe helps other women discover and pursue their life’s assignment. She is a passionate, and loud-laughing speaker on the topic of purposefully redeemed, and mentors young women so they can exercise a mind that is doctrinally pure, along with a heart that beats toward sanctification. She will almost never turn down Marlow’s Tavern double-tavern cheeseburger, a cooking-demonstration from Leaning Ladder, or any opportunity to head to Miami to spend time with family.
Mavian Arocha-Rowe

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Mavian Arocha-Rowe

Mavian Arocha-Rowe is known as an asset to the business and communications industry and is motivating and advocating “your authenticity should be your strategy,” for all women, regardless of their season and roles. For the past 20 years she has directed magazines, plus multiple art and marketing departments as creative director and brand manager. What supersedes all of her great career moves is her role as wife and mother living in Atlanta. Challenging herself to discover and bravely pursue the calling for her life, Arocha-Rowe helps other women discover and pursue their life’s assignment. She is a passionate, and loud-laughing speaker on the topic of purposefully redeemed, and mentors young women so they can exercise a mind that is doctrinally pure, along with a heart that beats toward sanctification. She will almost never turn down Marlow’s Tavern double-tavern cheeseburger, a cooking-demonstration from Leaning Ladder, or any opportunity to head to Miami to spend time with family.