A very common form of brain injury that occurs from a sudden impact to the head, concussions are usually not serious and temporary in nature. However, if ignored and not treated, or if multiple concussions occur over a certain period of time, brain functions can be severely impacted and various neurological conditions can result.
A tissue known as meninges as well as cerebrospinal fluid and the skull all act as protectors of the brain. But when the head or upper body receives a strong blow from an accident (such as a fall) or from contact sports, the brain can impact the side of the skull and a concussion may result. And with severe blows, the impact to the brain can be traumatic enough to cause a hemorrhage or bleeding, which can put a dangerous amount of pressure on the brain.
The symptoms of a concussion can vary greatly depending on the force and strength of the impact. Headaches and a confused or tired feeling are common, as are dizziness, nausea and vomiting and a ringing in the ears. In more severe cases the blow may cause someone to lose consciousness, have memory and sleep problems and develop drastic changes in mood or behavior.
To determine if a concussion is present, a physician will conduct a neurological exam to test memory, thinking, balance, vision and coordination. If a concussion is suspected follow up x-rays or CT scans will be ordered, and a patient may be hospitalized if swelling or bleeding in the brain is detected.
For mild concussions rest and cessation of physical activities is required. Medications can be prescribed to manage pain, and the patient should be observed for at least 24 hours and checked that symptoms don’t get any worse. It’s especially important that, if a concussion has occurred before (second impact syndrome), proper and complete healing of the brain take place; if subsequent head injuries occur the brain may swell quickly and cause a life-threatening situation.
Kwa sababu ya aina ya majeraha ya ubongo ambayo hutokea kutokana na mgongano wa ghafla kwenye kichwa, mshtuko wa ubongo kwa kawaida si mbaya na ni wa muda tu. Hata hivyo, ikiwa hupuuzwa na kutotibiwa, au ikiwa mshtuko wa ubongo unaotokea mara nyingi kwa kipindi fulani cha wakati, kazi za ubongo zinaweza kuathiriwa sana na hali mbalimbali za neva zinaweza kutokea. Tishu inayoitwa meninges, pamoja na umajimaji wa cerebrospinal na fuvu la kichwa, huhifadhi ubongo. Lakini kichwa au sehemu ya juu ya mwili inapopigwa sana kutokana na ajali (kama vile kuanguka) au michezo ya kugusa, ubongo unaweza kugonga upande wa fuvu la kichwa na kusababisha mshtuko wa ubongo. Kwa pigo kali, athari kwa ubongo inaweza kuwa na uharibifu wa kutosha kusababisha kutokwa na damu au kutokwa na damu, ambayo inaweza kuweka kiasi hatari cha shinikizo kwenye ubongo. Dalili za mshtuko wa ubongo zaweza kutofautiana sana ikitegemea nguvu na nguvu ya mgongano. Maumivu ya kichwa na hisia ya kuchanganyikiwa au uchovu ni ya kawaida, kama vile kizunguzungu, kichefuchefu na kutapika na sauti ya masikio. Katika visa vikali zaidi, pigo hilo linaweza kumfanya mtu apoteze fahamu, awe na matatizo ya kukumbuka na ya kulala, na awe na mabadiliko makubwa ya hisia au tabia. Ili kuamua ikiwa mshtuko wa ubongo upo, daktari atafanya uchunguzi wa neva ili kupima kumbukumbu, kufikiri, usawa, maono na uratibu. Ikiwa mshtuko wa ubongo unashukiwa, uchunguzi wa X-ray au CT utaamriwa, na mgonjwa anaweza kulazwa hospitalini ikiwa uvimbe au kutokwa na damu katika ubongo hutambuliwa. Kwa mshtuko wa ubongo wa kiasi kidogo pumziko na kukomesha shughuli za kimwili huhitajiwa. Dawa za kupunguza maumivu zinaweza kuagizwa, na mgonjwa anapaswa kuchunguzwa kwa angalau masaa 24 na kuchunguzwa ikiwa dalili hazizidi kuwa mbaya. Ni muhimu hasa kwamba, kama concussion imetokea kabla (sindromu ya athari ya pili), uponyaji sahihi na kamili ya ubongo hufanyika; kama majeraha ya baadaye ya kichwa hutokea ubongo unaweza kuvimba haraka na kusababisha hali ya kutisha maisha.