Concussion Summary A concussion is a type of brain injury. It’s the most minor form. Technically, a concussion is a short loss of normal brain function in response to a head injury. But people often use it to describe any minor injury to the head or brain. Concussions are a common type of sports injury. You can also have one if you suffer a blow to the head or hit your head after a fall. Symptoms of a concussion may not start right away; they may start days or weeks after the injury. Symptoms may include a headache or neck pain. You may also have nausea, ringing in your ears, dizziness, or tiredness. You may feel dazed or not your normal self for several days or weeks after the injury. Consult your health care professional if any of your symptoms get worse, or if you have more serious symptoms such as Seizures Trouble walking or sleeping Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination Repeated vomiting or nausea Confusion Slurred speech Doctors use a neurologic exam and imaging tests to diagnose a concussion. Most people recover fully after a concussion, but it can take some time. Rest is very important after a concussion because it helps the brain to heal. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Find an Expert American Academy of Neurology American Academy of Neurology Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Start Here Bang to the Brain: What We Know about Concussions National Institutes of Health Concussion Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Concussion American Academy of Family Physicians Heads Up Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Prevention and Risk Factors Brain Injury Safety Tips and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related Issues Can a Dietary Supplement Treat a Concussion? No! Food and Drug Administration Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research FAQs about Baseline Testing among Young Athletes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Post-Concussion Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What Can I Do to Help Feel Better After a Concussion? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Brain Concussion National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Brain Injuries National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Craniocerebral Trauma National Institutes of Health Array Concussion Concussion Concussion – adults – discharge Concussion – child – discharge Preventing head injuries in children Encyclopedia Concussion – what to ask your doctor – adult Concussion – what to ask your doctor – child Head CT scan Skull x-ray Children Concussion ABCs: Learn How to Respond Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Concussions Nemours Foundation NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion: Doug Flutie: “Be on the Safe Side.” NIH Research on Concussion and the Brain Sports and Concussion Specifics Concussion in Sports American College of Sports Medicine Concussion in Winter Sports Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Teenagers Concussions Nemours Foundation Concussions: Getting Better Nemours Foundation School and Concussions Nemours Foundation Sports and Concussions Nemours Foundation Health Check Tools Concussions: What Do You Know? (Quiz) Nemours Foundation Head Injury without Laceration DSHI Systems Videos and Tutorials Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Journal Articles Concussion Symptoms What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Concussion? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Latest News Previous Mental Distress May Slow Concussion Recovery HealthDay Delayed Treatment for Concussion May Prolong Recovery HealthDay Concussion Tied to More School Problems Than Other Sports Injuries HealthDay Cold Weather Can Spike Football Injuries, Study Finds HealthDay High School Football Players Suffer More Symptoms After Concussion HealthDay Even Mild Football Head Hits Can Harm Vision HealthDay Kids’ Concussion Rates May Be Higher Than Thought HealthDay