Hidden Dangers in Concussions
Many athletes will dismiss blows to their heads as nothing, especially when there are little to no symptoms. But according to sports medicine specialists, concussions can have serious complications when left undetected and untreated!
Keep in mind that a concussion is considered as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which alters the brain’s normal functions. While the effects are mostly temporary in nature, these can also be the signs of a more serious injury that requires prompt medical attention. The effects usually include headaches and issues with balance, coordination, concentration, and memory.
What are the complications of concussions when these are left untreated? A few potential health issues include:
- Epilepsy. Within the first five years after your concussion, your risk for epilepsy doubles.
- Post-traumatic headaches. You may experience chronic headaches within a few weeks to months after your concussion has occurred.
- Post-concussion syndrome. You may experience dizziness, headaches and cognitive difficulties a few days after your concussion. Your symptoms can persist for a few weeks to months afterwards.
- Post-traumatic vertigo. You may experience a moderate to severe sense of spinning for days, even weeks and months, after a concussion.
But these are not just the after-effects. With a second impact syndrome, you may experience another concussion that can worsen the effects of your first concussion. The second concussion increases the risk for rapid brain swelling, which can be fatal, because the brain has yet to heal from the first concussion.
The bottom line: Don’t dismiss or ignore blows to your head, especially when you are engaged in contact sports, such as football and hockey. Even collisions with other individuals and inanimate objects can result in undetected concussions, which may or may not require immediate medical attention to prevent serious complications.
Even when you appear to have recovered from the blow to your head without consulting your doctor, you may not be as well as you may think. This is because it usually takes your brain a week for its chemicals to become stabilized again.
You should always consult with your doctor after suffering a blow to your head, just to be on the safe side. Visit any of the Healthpointe clinics to learn more, such as the Temecula clinic near Murrieta, Fallbrook, Wildomar, Canyon Lake, and Sun City.
Come to any of the Healthpointe clinics, such as the Los Angeles clinic near Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, South Gate, Lynwood, Montebello, Monterey Park, and Alhambra.
About Healthpointe:
Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including Los Angeles, which is conveniently located by Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, South Gate, Lynwood, Montebello, Monterey Park, and Alhambra. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit Healthpointe.net.