If you have a Concusión, you most likely have many questions about what to do next. Can you take a nap? Should you drive to pick up your child from school? Is a glass of wine at dinner off the table?
The advice offered online tends to be either overly cautious or oddly casual, and neither extreme is much help when you're experiencing a headache and a foggy head, or trying to care for someone who might have a concussion.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common questions about what to do (and not to do) after a concussion.
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a sudden jolt, blow or bump to the head or body that shakes the brain inside the skull. Despite popular belief, a concussion doesn't require you to black out or hit your head on something hard. A hard tackle on the football field, a fender bender, a fall off a ladder or even a rough collision on the playground can all be enough.
The impact disrupts how brain cells communicate with each other for a period of time, which is what causes the headaches, dizziness and mental fog that arise afterward. Most concussions heal on their own within a few weeks, though recovery timelines can vary from person to person.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion don't always show up right away. Some people feel off within minutes, while others don't notice anything unusual until a few hours later or even the next day, which is part of why concussions get missed so often.
A concussion can present itself in various ways, and no two look exactly alike. Here are some of the most common signs of a concussion to watch for after a hit to the head or body:
If you, or someone you're caring for, took a hit to the head and something on this list seems to fit with what you’re experiencing, it's worth getting checked out by a healthcare provider rather than guessing.
Once a concussion is confirmed, the questions on what you can and can’t do start piling up fast. Here are some answers to the ones people tend to search for most.
Yes, you can sleep with a concussion, and you should, as sleep helps the brain recover. The advice about waking someone up every hour through the night to check on them has mostly fallen out of practice for typical concussions. Sleeping after a concussion is usually safe as long as you can talk, walk without balance problems and have even, normal-sized pupils. However, if you have trouble waking, increasing drowsiness or worsening confusion, this typically requires emergency evaluation.
If your doctor has specific concerns about your injury, they'll tell you to monitor more closely, but for most people, getting normal, restful sleep is one of the best things you can do with a concussion.
That said, the first day or two might call for a short nap or some extra rest if you're wiped out. Just try not to let daytime sleep completely take over, since that can throw off your nighttime sleep.
Not right away. A concussion can slow your reaction time, blur your focus and affect your depth perception, none of which mix well with operating a vehicle of any kind. Even if you feel mostly fine, your brain may not be processing things as quickly as it normally does.
Hold off on driving until your healthcare provider determines it is safe for you to get behind the wheel again, especially if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, light sensitivity or trouble concentrating.
Air travel isn't off-limits after a concussion, but it's not always the best idea either. Factors such as cabin pressure changes, background noise, bright lighting and long periods sitting still in a cramped seat can make some symptoms of a concussion, like headaches and dizziness, worse.
If a trip can be pushed back a few days, that's usually a good idea. However, if flying is unavoidable, or you’re still having symptoms like dizziness, headaches or confusion, talk to your doctor before proceeding, and plan for a slower pace once you land rather than jumping straight into heavy activity.
No, you should not drink alcohol with a concussion. Alcohol affects the brain in many of the same ways a concussion already does, so the combination of the two tends to intensify symptoms like dizziness, confusion and poor coordination. Alcohol consumption can also interfere with your balance, judgment, coordination and sleep quality.
It is recommended to avoid drinking alcohol until your symptoms have fully cleared and you've been given the go-ahead to return to normal activity from your doctor.
Pain relievers can help take the edge off a headache, but not all of them are recommended right after a head injury. Acetaminophen is generally considered the safer option in the early days following a concussion. Other medications like ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen fall into a category called NSAIDs, and doctors often advise steering clear of them at first because they can increase the risk of bleeding if there's any related injury to the brain.
Pain relievers aren't the only treatment for a concussion. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor might recommend physical or occupational therapy, and in some cases medication for sleep trouble, mood changes or muscle tension that can come along with a concussion. None of this is one-size-fits-all, so always check with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any form of medication or treatment for a concussion.
You should not exercise right after receiving a concussion, but movement isn't off the table forever. The first day or two after a concussion typically calls for physical and mental rest, meaning no workouts, no sports and no strenuous activity. After that initial rest period, you can gradually return to light activity, such as walking, rather than staying completely sedentary for weeks.
The key word to keep in mind is gradual. Jumping back into a heavy workout or contact sport too soon raises the risk of prolonging symptoms. It can also raise the risk of a second concussion before the first one has fully healed, and repeat concussions can carry a higher chance of lasting brain injury.
If you’re an athlete who sustained a concussion, you should follow a step-by-step return-to-play plan supervised by your doctor or athletic trainer.
In small doses, yes, it is usually okay to watch television or use your smartphone. The idea that you have to sit in a dark, silent room for days after being diagnosed with a concussion has mostly been set aside, since total sensory deprivation doesn't speed up healing and can leave you feeling isolated and bored, which isn't ideal for recovery either.
That said, screens can be somewhat tough on a healing brain. Bright light, fast motion and constant scrolling can bring on headaches or eye strain faster than usual. Ease back into phone and TV use in short stretches. Take breaks the moment symptoms start creeping up and build up your tolerance gradually rather than diving back into hours of screen time on day one.
Most concussions improve steadily over a couple of weeks, but certain symptoms mean you need to seek out medical attention right away rather than waiting it out. These include:
If any of those appear, head to an emergency room or call 911 instead of trying to manage things at home.
There's no single timeline that applies to every concussion. Some people feel better within days, while others need several weeks or more. Younger children, teens and people who've had a previous concussion can sometimes take a bit longer to recover.
A smaller number of people deal with symptoms that stick around for a month or more, sometimes called post-concussion symptoms. That doesn't necessarily mean anything is seriously wrong, but it's a good reason to stay in touch with your doctor rather than pushing through on your own. Pacing yourself and checking in if something isn't improving the way you'd expect can impact how quickly you recover and get back to your normal routine.
Have you or a loved one sustained a concussion? Reach out to your primary care provider or a concussion specialist for help.
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