Concussion
How to deal with vomiting from a concussion?
Concussion usually manifests as temporary consciousness disorder and immediate amnesia, meaning the inability to recall specific details at the time. Some patients also experience a series of clinical symptoms including headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and memory decline. If a patient with a concussion vomits, the first step should be to conduct a head CT to rule out the possibility of intracranial hemorrhage. In addition, symptomatic treatment can be actively provided, with metoclopramide commonly used for intramuscular injection.
How to check for a concussion?
How is a concussion diagnosed? In fact, the diagnosis of a concussion is primarily based on clinical manifestations such as a clear history of head trauma, temporary confusion, and retrograde amnesia. Concussions can also undergo some routine examinations, such as CT scans of the head, X-rays of the head, electroencephalography, cerebral blood flow imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. However, these test results are usually negative, meaning that the diagnosis of a concussion mainly relies on clinical manifestations and there are no effective diagnostic tests.
Can you drink alcohol with a concussion?
Patients with concussions typically experience transient disturbances of consciousness after injury, such as coma, along with recent memory loss. Some also suffer from various degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, insomnia, and other clinical symptoms. The diet for concussion patients should be light and easy to digest, avoiding spicy foods and other strong irritants, as well as avoiding alcohol, since alcohol can aggravate symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and insomnia. Therefore, patients with concussions should not drink alcohol.
How to diagnose a concussion
Typically, patients with concussions do not show organic changes on head CT scans; their primary clinical symptoms include temporary disturbances in consciousness after the injury and short-term memory loss. Some patients also experience varying degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blindness, impaired memory, or lack of concentration, among other clinical symptoms. Generally, the essential tests include: first, a head CT scan; second, an electroencephalogram (EEG); third, cerebrospinal fluid examination.
Is a concussion serious?
Concussion is usually a mild condition where the brain has been injured. Clinically, it manifests as temporary disturbances in consciousness, typically not exceeding half an hour. Another symptom is recent memory loss, as the individual cannot recall the events during the injury. There may also be a decrease in blood pressure or pallor at the time of the injury. Following the injury, symptoms such as dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, memory decline, lack of concentration, or tinnitus can occur. Generally, with 1-2 weeks of treatment, most people can recover from a concussion, so it is not considered a very serious condition.
What is a concussion?
Firstly, a concussion is a relatively mild condition where the brain sustains damage, usually accompanied by disturbances in consciousness, which are temporary, such as unconsciousness lasting no longer than half an hour. The second symptom is akin to amnesia, where the injured person is unable to recall the circumstances of the injury. At the time of the injury, symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure and pale complexion can occur; some patients may also experience dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, poor sleep, as well as a range of clinical manifestations including lack of concentration and memory decline.
How to administer first aid for a concussion
After a concussion occurs, the injured should be quickly moved from a dangerous environment to a safe area. The injured person should lie flat and rest quietly without sitting up or standing. The head can be appropriately cooled, and it is important to keep the body warm. For patients who are unconscious, it is necessary to keep the airway clear and closely observe their consciousness and pupils. If there are airway secretions or vomiting, they should be cleaned up promptly. If the patient has already experienced respiratory or circulatory problems, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed. After the aforementioned emergency treatment, the next step is to transport the patient to a nearby well-equipped hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.
Mild concussion sequelae
Mild concussions generally do not have any lasting effects. After a mild concussion, as long as one rests well, maintains a good mindset, and uses medication when necessary, along with symptomatic supportive treatment, the vast majority of people can fully recover within one to two weeks without any lasting effects. Only a few people, due to psychological and mental factors, may continue to experience symptoms that are difficult to improve for more than three months. In these cases, we consider these to be the after-effects of mild concussion, which mainly manifest as headaches, dizziness, dry heaving, vomiting, anxiety, insomnia, lack of concentration, memory decline, slow reactions, irritability, and a bad temper, among others.
What should be done for a concussion?
Patients with concussion generally experience fear and anxiety, so it is important to keep them calm and avoid disturbing them as much as possible. Some psychological communication with the patient can help maintain a calm state of mind. Secondly, closely observe the patient's general condition and changes in consciousness to prevent delayed intracranial hemorrhage. Thirdly, administer symptomatic medication as needed, such as pain relievers and sleep aids for symptoms like headache and insomnia. Fourthly, use medications that promote the recovery of nerve cells for treatment.
How long does vomiting last with a mild concussion?
Patients with mild concussion typically exhibit brief disturbances in consciousness lasting from several seconds to several minutes after the injury, usually not exceeding half an hour, along with retrograde amnesia. Some patients may also experience varying degrees of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and other clinical symptoms. The vast majority of mild concussion patients can recover within five to seven days with rest and conditioning, meaning that mild concussion symptoms, including vomiting, can resolve within 5-7 days.