Concussion

Preventing concussion

There are a number ofcommonsense precautions you can take to reduce your risk of concussion.

These precautions include:

always wearing the recommended equipment when taking part in a contact sportsuch asrugby or boxing
making sure any contact sport you or your child are taking part in issupervised by a properly qualified and trained person
always wearing a seatbelt when driving
wearing a motorcycle helmet this is a legal requirement if you are riding a motorcycle in England
wearing a cycle helmetthis is not a legal requirement, but cycle helmets have been recommended by several leading organisations, such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

It is also easy to underestimate how many cases of concussion occur as the result of a Falls or slip at home or in the garden, especially in older people. Following some or all of thesuggestions below will help keep your home and garden as safe as possible.

keep stairways clear soyou do not trip over anything
use appropriate safety equipment if you're doing any kind of DIY
use appropriate equipment to change a light bulb, such as a stepladder
clean upspillages to prevent someone slipping

For more information,visit the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Jun 2016

Articles for concussion

Introduction

Concussion (minor traumatic brain injury) is the sudden but short-lived loss of mental function that occurs after a blow or other injury to the head.

Symptoms of concussion

Common symptoms of concussion include headache, nausea, loss of balance, memory loss and dizziness. Symptoms of concussion can be mild to severe.

Causes of concussion

Concussion occurs when a blow or impact to the head causes a sudden disruption to part of the brain known as the reticular activating system (RAS).

Diagnosing concussion

Concussion is often diagnosed in the accident and emergency (A&E) department, by a paramedic at the scene of an accident, or by another trained official.