The modern rhythm of life helpfully presents any person with many opportunities to get hurt. Hurrying to work in the morning and home in the evening, a resident of a megalopolis sometimes completely does not notice the environment. A neglected workplace is no less traumatic. And how many situations arise in everyday life! Sport also presents an unpleasant surprise to a person who has not calculated his strength. Well, I don’t even want to touch criminal situations.
In all circumstances, the result, as a rule, is one - a traumatic brain injury. In this case, the main thing is to be able to correctly recognize the symptoms of concussion in adults and provide timely assistance. Moreover, it is very important that the measures taken do not cause harm to the patient.
What is going on in the brain?
In the human body, this organ is placed in a liquid. It protects the brain from hitting the bones of the skull. But, unfortunately, with strong shocks or bruises, such a defense mechanism is not enough. As a result, injury occurs. In this case, all the symptoms of concussion in adults are obvious.
The phenomenon disrupts the work of the body. At the same time, it does not lead to irreversible processes. Quite rarely, during concussion, damage to the bones of the skull, soft tissues, blood vessels, or membrane occurs.
The characteristics of each stage occurring in the brain, and today, modern doctors are not defined. However, most doctors claim that the phenomenon leads to a disruption in the normal functioning of nerve cells. After all, with a concussion, their nutrition worsens, tissue layers shift, the connection between the centers is lost. As a result, the smallest hemorrhages, microsurges, edema appear. Unfortunately, even MRI does not show such changes.
Types of injuries
Any damage to the head is initially divided into open and closed. At the first type of injury, soft tissues and bones of the skull are affected. Closed injuries are less dangerous. However, they require no less attention. In turn, they are divided into light concussion and severe, squeezing, bruising.
Serious injury is quite dangerous. Indeed, a severe concussion is diagnosed with significant damage to certain areas or rupture of blood vessels. This condition often leads to loss of consciousness. The time during which the patient was in the above state determines the severity. Coma is the most serious stage. When a patient regains consciousness, quite often he does not remember those around him and does not understand what happened to him.
Severity
In medicine, there is a classification of this phenomenon, proposed by doctors from Colorado and accepted internationally. According to her, three degrees of concussion are distinguished. Each of them directly characterizes the defeat of an important organ.
So, the accepted gradation:
- 1 degree . This stage is a mild concussion. Symptoms that characterize the patient's condition are impaired coordination of movements, confusion. The loss of the latter is not at all characteristic of the first degree. Amnesia is also not observed in patients.
- 2 degree . This form refers to moderate to severe injuries. At this degree, confusion is noted, usually without loss of consciousness. However, the manifestation of amnesia becomes the main symptom.
- 3 degree . The most severe category of injury. A clear sign of this stage is loss of consciousness.
The time interval in the classification is indicated rather vague. The "small gap" of the unconscious state can vary from a few seconds to tens of minutes, according to Russian doctors. This symptom is considered in conjunction with other signs of concussion. The severity is determined only by the general picture of the patient's condition. All signs are taken into account.
Main symptoms
It is very important to correctly and timely determine the signs of concussion in adults. After all, a person who has been injured needs medical attention.
It should be understood that the following symptoms of concussion in adults may not occur immediately and not all. And some signs (this depends on the severity of the injury) will not occur at all.
The most obvious symptoms include:
- Headache. This symptom is quite obvious, because the victim was injured.
- Hyperactive behavior or severe drowsiness.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Failures in coordination of movements. Symptom directly indicates a brain injury. As a rule, dizziness is connected to the phenomenon.
- Noise in ears. A sign due to a violation of the blood supply to the brain.
- Doubling in the eyes.
- Loss of consciousness. This is the main symptom of concussion. As previously stated, the time interval may vary.
- The size of the pupils. It is recommended to check it out. Sometimes, with a concussion, the pupils can take on a different shape.
- Cramps. A sign that directly indicates the presence of a concussion.
- Annoyed by loud sounds and bright lights. Having regained consciousness, the patient may experience serious discomfort from the strong sources mentioned above.
- Confusion. During the conversation, one may encounter the fact that the patient does not even remember what happened to him.
- "Lubricated" speech.
For a sufficiently long time, the patient has a headache. It can be accompanied by various autonomic dysfunctions. This may be a lack of appetite, a jump in heart rate, pressure, or weakness. Patient instability is characteristic. It varies from complete apathy to severe irritability.
The question often arises - what is the temperature during concussion? After all, it is not mentioned in the list of main symptoms. And this is no coincidence. After all, as a rule, the temperature during a head injury remains within the normal range. Therefore, often it does not focus at all, if we mean concussion.
Symptoms and treatment in their duration cover about two weeks. After the specified period, the patient feels significant relief. Although it is impossible to exclude a longer time interval.
Prohibited relief measures
According to medical statistics, concussion is a fairly common trauma. Therefore, almost everyone can face such a phenomenon. And the further forecast depends on how correctly he will assist the victim with a concussion. It is important to realize that the health of the patient depends on this.
Therefore, it is worthwhile to especially dwell on measures that are completely unacceptable with a concussion. After all, they not only will not help a person, but worsen the condition of the victim.
- A head injured is strictly forbidden to move sharply.
- Before the examination of the doctor, the victim should not be transported.
- In no case do you need to drink or feed the patient.
- It is strictly forbidden to use drugs.
- The victim must be examined by a neuropathologist. Only he can make a diagnosis on the basis of the clinic.
First aid
The main symptoms after injury are: headache in various areas and with varying degrees of severity, loss of consciousness. Based on such clinical manifestations, the doctor will be able to conclude that the victim has a severe or mild concussion. Symptoms can sometimes be hidden by the patient. In this case, only the diagnosis will show the true picture.
- First aid for concussion involves ensuring complete rest for the patient. The victim should be put down. It is necessary to unfasten buttons and buckles on clothes. This ensures a normal airway. The victim’s head should be turned to one side. Sometimes it is necessary to extend the tongue. No medications should be given to the victim.
- If the patient complains of dizziness, tinnitus, then he must be laid down. If neck injuries are suspected, it is necessary to fix the immobility of the latter with improvised means. Clothing can be used as a tire by twisting it tightly into a roller. It is placed under the neck and head.
- Be sure to call an ambulance. The victim must not be transported on his own. Specialist patient delivery is less dangerous. If it is impossible to call a help team, transportation should be carried out with extreme caution. The patient should be exclusively in a supine position. The rear seat of the car is best suited for these purposes.
- If you lose consciousness, you can bring ammonia to your nose. In this case, it is completely unacceptable to shake the patient, whip on the face.
- A person may complain of an increase in symptoms - increased headache, the occurrence of nausea, vomiting. In this case, a progressive deterioration is noted. First aid for concussion in this case is the quickest delivery of the victim to a medical facility. This symptomatology can characterize intracranial hemorrhage. Unfortunately, in this case, conservative treatment is powerless. Only a neurosurgical operation will help here.
Diagnostic Methods
Usually this question is not difficult for a neurologist. To make a diagnosis, an examination of the patient and an anamnesis are quite enough. However, an examination is still recommended. This eliminates traumatic brain injuries of a severe nature.
The survey includes the following main measures:
- Roentgenography. Identifies cracks or broken bones. The examination will also reveal possible dislocations or fractures of the vertebrae of the neck.
- Electroencephalography. A study of the cerebral cortex, giving an idea of even minor violations or malfunctions.
If the patient has a severe form of concussion, then the doctor will send for a more detailed examination.
Treatment methods
There can be no talk of an independent struggle against an ailment. An ambulance call is required. It should be understood that only a doctor can make a diagnosis, carefully examine the symptoms characteristic of such a phenomenon as concussion. And the treatment will directly depend on the clinical picture.
As a rule, the actions of doctors include measures such as:
- Hospitalization of the victim (with any severity) with the appointment of exclusively bed rest.
- Connection of drugs aimed at restoring normal functioning. Means can relieve pain, relieve insomnia, dizziness. As a rule, prescribed drugs have a sedative effect.
- Along with the main therapy, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. It enhances metabolism. Thus, it contributes to the restoration of blood vessels and cells.
- It is important enough to adhere to the doctor’s dietary recommendations.
Possible consequences
A sufferer who has suffered a concussion risks various complications. This may be a post-traumatic neurosis or a more serious ailment. For example, epilepsy.
That is why it is very important not to self-medicate, but to contact a neurologist for competent help. In this case, it is advisable to go through all the prescribed examinations. This will allow the doctor to prescribe an effective treatment.
Preventative measures
Unfortunately, no one is 100% safe from injuries. But if we touch on the main reasons, due to which traumatic brain injuries most often occur, then a few simple rules can be distinguished.
These include:
- head protection with a helmet if occupations require it (hockey, rollerblading or cycling, boxing);
- the use of seat belts in the car;
- maintaining a safe environment in your own home (excluding blows on furniture, wiping liquid spilled on the floor, “unloading” the aisles between rooms as much as possible).
Conclusion
Knowledge is tremendous power. This information will help you easily identify the symptoms of concussion in adults. And, no less important, do not get confused, do not panic, but act correctly and professionally. Thus, you will alleviate the condition of the victim.