A leading indicator of our success is the feedback we get from our patients. All head injuries should be treated seriously. The most common type of head injury is a concussion. It is a jarring trauma to the brain that can cause a person to lose consciousness or have amnesia. What do you do if you are around someone who experiences a serious head injury or concussion? You may have heard that you should not let the person go to sleep, but is this true?
It is generally considered safe for people with head injuries or concussions to go to sleep. In some cases, a doctor may recommend waking the person regularly to make sure his or her condition has not worsened.
Many people will go to great lengths to keep a person who has had a head injury from falling asleep. They argue that keeping the person awake will decrease the risk that he or she slips into a coma. This misunderstanding probably stems from hearing about a rare occurrence known as a lucid interval that has been associated with certain types of severe head injuries.
A lucid interval occurs when the initial bleeding in the brain does not cause loss of consciousness. The bleeding eventually worsens and brain structures become compressed. Most medical professionals say it is fine—sometimes even advised—to let people sleep after incurring a head injury. The American Academy of Family Physicians states it is not necessary to keep a person awake after a head injury.
If a person needs to be watched that closely, a doctor will most likely admit him or her to the hospital. The Dartmouth College of Sports Medicine advises that it is fine to go to sleep after a concussion so long as someone wakes you up every two hours.
In a study in the September-October issue of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation , researchers reported greater levels of fatigue in people who have had head injuries, compared with those who have not. The researchers concluded that regular rest breaks and increasing intervals of restful sleep should be a part of the rehabilitation from head injury. If you are around someone who has a head injury or possible concussion, monitor the symptoms closely.
It is important to call a doctor or go to a hospital immediately if the person has worrisome symptoms such as:. When a head injury is serious enough to require medical care, a doctor will give you instructions on how to monitor and treat the injury once the person is released from the hospital or clinic.
These instructions will generally not include keeping the person awake and alert. Head injuries. Accessed November 5, Head injuries: what to watch for afterward. Trust your instincts. If you think your child doesn't look or seem right, partly awaken your child by sitting them up. They should fuss a bit and attempt to resettle. If your child still seems very drowsy, try to awaken them fully. If you can't wake your child, call your health care provider or for an ambulance.
It's impossible to protect kids from every injury. But you can help prevent head blows. Most important, childproof your home to prevent household accidents. Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Head Injuries? What Causes Head Injuries?
They also happen from: car crashes bike accidents sports injuries child abuse What Are the Types of Head Injuries? Head injuries can be: external and involve the scalp internal and involve the skull, brain, or blood vessels An injury can cause a concussion, contusion, fracture, or bleeding: A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury.
It happens when a blow to the head or another injury moves the head back and forth with a lot of force. This causes chemical changes in the brain and sometimes damages brain cells.
A contusion bruise happens when a blow to the head injures the skin and the soft tissue under it. Blood from small blood vessels leaks, causing red or purple marks on the skin. Contusions often happen on the scalp or forehead. That's why anyone who experiences a brain injury needs monitoring in the hours afterward and emergency care if symptoms worsen.
Second impact syndrome. Rarely, experiencing a second concussion before signs and symptoms of a first concussion have resolved may result in rapid and usually fatal brain swelling. It's important for athletes never to return to sports while they're still experiencing signs and symptoms of concussion. Wearing protective gear during sports and other recreational activities.
Make sure the equipment fits properly, is well maintained and is worn correctly. Follow the rules of the game and practice good sportsmanship. When bicycling, motorcycling, snowboarding or engaging in any recreational activity that may result in head injury, wear protective headgear. Concussion care at Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects your brain function. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Types of concussion injuries Open pop-up dialog box Close. Types of concussion injuries Common injuries that cause concussions include falls or other direct hits to the head, car accidents and blast injuries from explosions.
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Evans RW. Acute mild traumatic brain injury concussion in adults. Accessed Nov. Sprouse RA, et al. Sport-related concussion: How best to help young athletes. The Journal of Family Practice. Recovery from concussion. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of traumatic brain injury TBI. What is a concussion? Meehan WP, et al. Concussion in children: Management. Accessed Jan. Schutzman S. Minor head trauma in infants and children: Evaluation.
Giza CC, et al. Summary of evidence-based guideline update: Evaluation and management of concussion in sports: Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. McCrory P, et al.
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