Symptoms of concussion in adults. First aid for concussion

The modern rhythm of life is helpful to every person a lot of opportunities to get injured. Hurrying to work in the morning, and home in the evening, the inhabitant of the metropolis sometimes does not notice the environment at all. Negligent attitude to production is no less traumatic. And how many situations arise in everyday life! Sport also presents an unpleasant surprise to a person who has not calculated his strength. Well, I do not even want to touch criminal situations.

In all circumstances, the result, as a rule, is one - a traumatic brain injury. In this case, the main thing is to be able to correctly recognize the symptoms of concussion in adults and to provide timely and necessary help. It is very important that the measures taken do not cause harm to the patient.

What happens in the brain?

In the human body, this organ is placed in a liquid. It protects the brain from bumps against the skull bone. But, unfortunately, with strong shocks or bruises such a protection mechanism is not enough. As a result, injuries occur. In this case, all the symptoms of concussion in adults are evident.

The phenomenon disrupts the work of the body. It does not lead to irreversible processes. Quite rare during a concussion, the bones of the skull, soft tissues, vessels or shells are damaged.

The characteristics of each stage occurring in the brain, and today, modern doctors are not defined. However, most doctors claim that the phenomenon leads to a disruption of the normal life of nerve cells. After all, with a concussion of the brain, their nutrition deteriorates, the layers of tissues are displaced, the connection between the centers is lost. As a result, there are minute hemorrhages, micro-bruises, swelling. Unfortunately, even MRI does not show such changes.

Types of injuries

Any damage to the head is initially divided into open and closed. At the first type of injury, soft tissues and bones of the skull are touched. Closed damage is less dangerous. However, they require no less attention. In turn, they are divided into a light concussion and heavy, squeezing, bruising.

Serious injury is quite dangerous. After a severe concussion is diagnosed with significant damage to certain areas or vascular rupture. This condition often leads to a loss of consciousness. The time during which the patient was in the above condition, determines the degree of severity. Coma is the most serious stage. The patient, when he regains consciousness, often does not remember those around him and does not understand what happened to him.

Degrees of gravity

In medicine, there is a classification of this phenomenon, proposed by doctors from Colorado and adopted internationally. According to her, three degrees of concussion are distinguished. Each of them characterizes directly the defeat of an important organ.

So, the accepted gradation:

• 1 degree . This stage is an easy concussion. Symptoms characterizing the patient's condition are a violation of coordination of movements, confusion of consciousness. The loss of the latter is not at all characteristic of the first degree. Amnesia is also not observed in patients.
• 2 degree . This form refers to medium-severe injuries. At this degree, confusion is noted , usually without losing it. However, the main symptom is the manifestation of amnesia.
• 3 degree . The most severe category of injury. A bright sign of this stage is a loss of consciousness.

The time interval in the classification is indicated rather blurry. "A small gap" of the unconscious state can vary from a few seconds to tens of minutes, according to domestic doctors. This symptom is considered in conjunction with other signs characterizing the concussion of the brain. The degree of severity is determined only by the general picture of the patient's condition. All attributes are taken into account.

Main symptoms

It is very important to correctly and timely identify signs of concussion in adults. After all, a person who is injured needs medical care.

It should be understood that the following symptoms of concussion in adults can not appear immediately and not all. And some signs (it depends on the severity of the injury) and does not arise.

The most obvious symptoms are:

• Headache. This sign is quite obvious, because the victim was injured.
• Hyperactive behavior or severe drowsiness.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Failures in the coordination of movements. The symptom directly indicates a brain injury. As a rule, dizziness is connected to the phenomenon.
• Noise in ears. A symptom caused by a violation of the blood supply to the brain.
• Doubling in the eyes.
• Loss of consciousness. This is the main symptom that characterizes the concussion of the brain. As previously stipulated, the time interval may vary.
• The size of the pupils. It is recommended to check it. Sometimes with a concussion, the pupils can acquire a different shape.
• Convulsions. A symptom that clearly indicates a concussion.
• Irritation to loud sounds and bright light. Having regained consciousness, the patient may experience severe discomfort from the strong sources mentioned above.
• Confusion of consciousness. During the conversation, you can face the fact that the patient does not even remember what happened to him.
• "Smeared" speech.

For a long time, the patient has a headache. It can be accompanied by various autonomic dysfunctions. This may be a lack of appetite, heartbeat, pressure, or weakness. Mood unsteadiness is characteristic for patients. It varies from sheer apathy to severe irritability.

Often the question arises - what is the temperature with concussion? After all, it is not mentioned in the list of the main symptoms. And this is not accidental. After all, as a rule, the temperature at a head trauma remains within the limits of norm. Therefore, often it does not focus at all, if we mean a concussion.

Symptoms and treatment for its duration span about two weeks. At the end of this period, the patient feels considerable relief. Although we can not exclude a longer time interval.

Prohibited Measures in Relief

According to medical statistics, concussion is a fairly common trauma. Consequently, almost every person can face such a phenomenon. And on how correctly he will help the patient with a concussion, a further prediction depends. It is important to realize that the patient's health depends on this.

Therefore, it is worthwhile dwelling on measures that are absolutely unacceptable with concussion of the brain. After all, they will not only help a person, but worsen the condition of the victim.

1. The head injured is categorically forbidden to move sharply.
2. Before examining the doctor, do not transport the victim.
3. In no case need to drink or feed the patient.
4. It is strictly forbidden to use medicines.
5. The injured should be examined by a neuropathologist. Only he can make a diagnosis on the basis of the clinic.

First aid

The main symptoms after the injury are: headache in various areas and varying degrees of severity, loss of consciousness. On the basis of such clinical manifestations, the doctor will be able to conclude that the patient has a severe or light concussion. Symptoms can sometimes be hidden by the patient himself. In this case, only the diagnosis will show the true picture.

1. First aid in case of concussion implies the provision of complete rest to the patient. The victim should be put. It is necessary to unbutton the buttons and buckles on the clothes. This ensures normal airway patency. The head of the victim should be turned to one side. Sometimes it is necessary to stretch the tongue. No medicines should be given to the injured.
2. If the patient complains of dizziness, noise in the ears, then it must be packed. If there is a suspicion of neck injuries, it is necessary to fix the immobility of the latter with improvised means. As a tire you can use clothes, tightly twisting it in the roller. It is placed under the neck and head.
3. Be sure to call an "ambulance". The injured person can not be transported by himself. Delivery of the patient by specialists is less dangerous. If it is not possible to call a help team, the transportation should be carried out with extreme caution. The patient should be exclusively in a lying position. The rear seat of the car is best suited for these purposes.
4. In case of loss of consciousness, the victim can be brought to the nose with ammonia. In this case, it is absolutely unacceptable to shake the patient, to slap on the face.
5. A person can complain about the increase in symptoms - increased headache, the emergence of nausea, vomiting. There is a progressive deterioration of the condition. First aid for concussion in this case is the fastest delivery of the victim to a medical facility. This symptomatology can characterize intracranial hemorrhage. Unfortunately, in this case, conservative treatment is powerless. Only neurosurgical surgery will help here.

Methods of diagnosis

Usually this question does not cause difficulties for a neurologist. For the diagnosis is quite enough to examine the patient and anamnesis. However, the examination is still recommended. This allows you to exclude craniocerebral injuries of a serious nature.

The survey includes the following main measures:

• Radiography. It allows to reveal cracks or fractures of bones. The examination will also conclude about possible dislocations or fractures of the vertebrae of the neck.
• Electroencephalography. A study of the cerebral cortex, giving an idea of even minor disturbances or malfunctions in work.

If the patient has a severe form of concussion, the doctor will send for a more detailed examination.

Methods of treatment

There can be no question of independent struggle against the disease. The call of the "first aid" is mandatory. It should be understood that only a doctor can diagnose, carefully investigate the characteristics of such phenomena as concussion, symptoms. And the treatment will depend directly on the clinical picture.

As a rule, the actions of doctors include such measures as:

• Hospitalization of the victim (with any degree of severity) with the appointment of exclusively bed rest.
• Connection of medicines aimed at restoring normal functioning. Means allow you to remove pain, relieve insomnia, dizziness. As a rule, the prescribed drugs have a sedative effect.
• Along with the main therapy, symptomatic treatment is prescribed. It increases the metabolism. This facilitates the recovery of blood vessels and cells.
• It is important to adhere to the recommendations of the doctor on diet.

Possible consequences

The victim, who suffered a concussion, risks getting various complications. This may be post-traumatic neurosis or a more serious ailment. For example - epilepsy.

That is why it is very important not to engage in self-medication, but to contact a neurologist for competent help. It is advisable to go through all the prescribed examinations. This will allow the doctor to prescribe an effective treatment.

Preventive measures

Unfortunately, 100% of the people are not insured against injuries. But if we touch on the main reasons, which most often cause craniocerebral trauma, then we can single out a few simple rules.

They include:

• Protection of the head with a helmet, if required (hockey, roller skating or biking, boxing);
• Use of seat belts in the car;
• Maintaining a safe environment in their own home (exclude attacks on furniture, wipe the spilled liquid on the floor, maximally "unload" the passageways between rooms).

Conclusion

Knowledge is a huge power. This information will allow us to easily identify the symptoms of concussion in adults. And, no less important, do not get lost, do not panic, but act properly and professionally. Thus, you will ease the condition of the victim.