Symptoms of concussion

Written by Li Pei
Neurosurgery
Updated on April 20, 2025
00:00
00:00

Concussion is the mildest form of traumatic brain injury. The symptoms of concussion primarily include: first, a brief period of clouded consciousness shortly after the injury, typically lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, generally not exceeding half an hour; second, retrograde amnesia, where the patient cannot clearly recall the events during the injury, but memory of events prior to the injury remains clear; third, common symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, poor sleep, and decreased memory; fourth, the patient's cranial examination reveals no significant abnormalities, and lumbar puncture cerebrospinal fluid color and tests are normal.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
52sec home-news-image

Is a concussion dangerous?

Concussion is not a severe brain injury and there is no need for excessive worry; symptomatic supportive treatment is usually sufficient. Typically, rest is advised, along with a light diet, regular living habits, and abstaining from smoking and alcohol. If necessary, treatment may include neuro-nutritive medications and drugs to improve microcirculation. Generally, symptoms should subside within one to two weeks. It is important to note that concussions occur after head trauma, and there is a certain likelihood of re-bleeding within the first three days following the trauma. After three days, the possibility of intracranial hemorrhage becomes very very low. Therefore, post-concussion there is still some risk, and it is necessary to closely monitor any changes in the condition, potentially requiring hospitalization for observation and treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
50sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
53sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of a concussion?

Patients with concussions often present with a clear history of head trauma, followed by a brief period of impaired consciousness, often referred to as a state of drowsiness or stupor. As the condition progresses, patients usually regain consciousness spontaneously and experience significant symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, during subsequent treatment, patients may experience clinical symptoms such as insomnia at night, frequent dreaming, and easy waking. Patients often cannot accurately recall the incident at the time of injury, a condition clinically known as retrograde amnesia. However, in such patients, head CT or MRI scans typically show no significant positive findings. For these patients, diagnosis is generally made based on clinical presentation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
35sec home-news-image

Dietary considerations for mild concussion

Mild concussions usually do not show organic damage on a head CT; they are temporary functional dysfunctions of brain neural functions, typically manifesting as brief post-injury consciousness disturbances and retrograde amnesia. The diet for patients with mild concussions should avoid cold, raw, or strongly irritating foods, such as spicy dishes, and refrain from drinking alcohol or smoking. Their diet should primarily consist of light, easy-to-digest foods, high in protein and vitamins, but low in fat and sugar, including plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
50sec home-news-image

How to treat a concussion

The management of concussion patients includes general management and symptomatic drug treatment. General management should include psychological communication with patients who may feel fear and anxiety. Keeping the patient's mood relaxed is beneficial to the recovery of the disease. Secondly, in the early stages of concussion, it is important to observe changes in the patient's general condition to prevent the possibility of delayed intracranial hemorrhage. Thirdly, the patient's diet should be light, easy to digest, and nutritionally reasonable. Additionally, there is symptomatic drug treatment. Some patients may experience severe headaches and insomnia. We can administer some analgesic and hypnotic medications orally. Treatment can also include oral medications that promote the recovery of nerve cells.