Did you know that an estimated approximately 165,000 traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur each year in Canada? The number may seem even more shocking if you consider that’s 456 people every day—or one person every three minutes.
Many of these involve concussions, which are second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of TBIs. The symptoms of a concussion can persist for weeks or months after the initial injury.
In this article, our healthcare providers in Oakville, explain how long concussions last and what you can do to help hasten your healthy recovery.
What Is a Concussion?
Concussions occur due to a blow to the head, a fall, violent whiplash, or sports injuries.
Concussions are of great concern because they damage the brain cells and blood vessels. These injuries are usually not life-threatening but can cause serious health problems if left untreated.
The effects of concussions can last for months or even years after the initial injury. It’s important for anyone who suffers from a concussion to seek its treatment as soon as possible.
Types of Concussions and Post-Concussion Symptoms
Doctors classify the varying degrees of concussions as:
- Grade 0: Headache + difficulty concentrating
- Grade 1: Headache + difficulty concentrating + dazed feeling (under 1 minute)
- Grade 2: Longer-lasting Grade 1 symptoms with irritability, confusion, dizziness, amnesia, ringing in the ears
- Grade 3: Loss of consciousness (under 1 minute)
- Grade 4: Loss of consciousness (over 1 minute)
How Long Does a Concussion Last?
How long do concussions last? The answer: It depends.
The most important thing to know about concussions is that there’s no “one size fits all” scenario. The effects of a concussion vary from person to person and from one concussion to another because multiple factors are at play here.
The time it takes for your symptoms to go away will vary depending on how bad your injury was. Approximately 80% of concussion symptoms resolve over a 7-14-day period after the accident.
Long-Term Effects of Multiple Concussions
People with concussions should not resume physical activities sooner than one week after the injury. Doing so puts them at risk of the long-term effects of multiple concussions.
These include:
- Slurred speech
- Memory problems
- Parkinsonism
- Physical coordination problems
How to Treat a Concussion
Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with headaches. You can also use anti-nausea medication such as ondansetron (Zofran) for nausea.
Here are some things you can do at home to help yourself recover from a concussion:
- Rest – Sleep as often as possible. The more time you spend sleeping, the more time your brain has to repair itself after trauma.
- Hydrate – Drinking plenty of water will help relieve headaches and keep your body hydrated while healing.
- Eat healthily – Eating nutritious foods will give your body the building blocks it needs for a speedy recovery.
- Do concussion exercises and daily walks.
If your concussion symptoms persist for longer than a week after having a doctor evaluate your concussion, then it’s probably best to see them again for further evaluation.
Conclusion: How Long Does a Concussion Last?
Your health is our premier concern here at OAK Physio & Wellness in Oakville, ON. We offer various treatments, such as physiotherapy, as an effective form of care for post-concussion symptoms.
Contact us today at 289-725-0241 to learn more about what we can do for you if you’ve recently suffered a concussion.