Definition
An injury to the head causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull. This force may cause a tearing or twisting of the structures and blood vessels of the brain, which results in a breakdown of the normal flow of messages within the brain. The damage to the brain generally is found deep within the brain tissue. Because of this damage, the normal function of the brain signals are interrupted. |
Concussions
Concussion Categories:
Grade 1:
The mild concussion occurs when the person does not lose consciousness (pass out) but may seem dazed.
Grade 2:
The slightly more severe form occurs when the person does not lose consciousness but has a period of confusion and does not recall the event.
Grade 3:
The classic concussion, which is the most severe form, occurs when the person loses consciousness for a brief period of time and has no memory of the event.
Evaluation from a health-care provider should be performed as soon as possible after the injury.
Mild head injury, such as concussion is a frequent cause for hospital admission, with an estimate of more than 600,000 cases per year in the United States. |
