Amid the start of high school sports, know the symptoms of a concussion
As high school sports get underway this fall, sports medicine specialists remind athletes, parents and coaches that concussions can be challenging to diagnose.
Dr. Sean Bradley, a primary care sports medicine physician at Ochsner Health in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, emphasizes that neither lab tests nor imaging techniques can determine whether a concussion has occurred.
“A diagnosis is generally based off of symptoms at the time of the injury, a physical exam on the sideline and how the injury took place,” Bradley said. “And no two concussions are ever the same. Even if an athlete suffers another concussion, he or she can have totally different symptoms that require a completely different treatment model from the previous injury.”
More than 173,000 children and teenagers receive treatment for concussions and other traumatic brain injuries each year in emergency rooms across the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While common symptoms like headaches, neck pain, nausea and vomiting are more well-known, according to Bradley, other symptoms include:
Mood changes like increased irritability, sadness or anxiety Dizziness
Blurred vision
Balance problems
Bradley said that these additional symptoms could also be minor or sporadic, which could make it more difficult to diagnose concussions. Players who appear to have suffered from a concussion should be taken out of play and evaluated by a medical professional.
“Not all concussions have to go to the emergency room, but things like worsening headache, changes in mood, behavior or mental status, as well as focal neurological deficits, are red flags that an athlete needs to be seen in the emergency room immediately,” Bradley said.
Anti-inflammatory medications and alcohol should be avoided, with Tylenol recommended as the primary treatment. Sleeping right away after a concussion was once discouraged, but it is now seen as safe, Bradley said.