What is a Concussion / Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Concussion, also called traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the tissues or blood vessels of the brain and/or brain stem caused by any sudden movement to the head or body that violently shakes the brain inside the skull. A blow to the head or body, a whiplash of the head and neck, a fall or other trauma may result in a concussion / TBI.

Concussion / TBI can occur without the individual having to lose consciousness. Often times there are no visible signs of a concussion / TBI but there may be symptoms or changes in behavior as provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and listed below:

Thinking:

• Feeling mentally foggy
• Problems concentrating
• Problems remembering
• Feeling more slowed dow

Sleep:

• Drowsiness
• Sleeping more than usual
• Sleeping less than usual
• Trouble falling asleep

Emotional

• Irritability
• Sadness
• Feeling more emotional
• Nervousness

Physical

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Balance problems
• Visual problems
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Numbness / Tingling
• Fatigue

Physicians can significantly improve patient outcomes when concussion/ traumatic brain injury (TBI) is suspected or diagnosed by implementing early management and appropriate referral. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

What is a Concussion / Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Concussion, also called traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the tissues or blood vessels of the brain and/or brain stem caused by any sudden movement to the head or body that violently shakes the brain inside the skull. A blow to the head or body, a whiplash of the head and neck, a fall or other trauma may result in a concussion / TBI.

Concussion / TBI can occur without the individual having to lose consciousness. Often times there are no visible signs of a concussion / TBI but there may be symptoms or changes in behavior as provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and listed below:

Thinking:

• Feeling mentally foggy
• Problems concentrating
• Problems remembering
• Feeling more slowed down

Emotional:

• Irritability
• Sadness
• Feeling more emotional
• Nervousness

Sleep:

• Drowsiness
• Sleeping more than usual
• Sleeping less than usual
• Trouble falling asleep

Physical:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Balance problems
• Visual problems
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Numbness / Tingling
• Fatigue

"Physicians can significantly improve patient outcomes when concussion/ traumatic brain injury (TBI) is suspected or diagnosed by implementing early management and appropriate referral."

-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

If you are with a person suspected of just having suffered a concussion and the person demonstrates any of the following symptoms below:

• Headaches that worsen
• Looks very drowsy, can't be awakened
• Can't recognize people or places
• Unusual behavioral change
• Seizures
• Repeated vomiting
• Increasing confusion
• Increasing irritability
• Neck pain
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in arms or legs
• Loss of consciousness

Call 911 immediately.