Sports safety and concussion prevention have gained increased attention, and for good reason. Even though concussions are fairly common, they pose serious long-term risks if not treated correctly. But many people still aren’t sure what concussions are or how to treat them.
Even though your brain is protected by your skull, it is still vulnerable to injury. If your head violently rocks back and forth, or is hit by another person or object, your brain may slam against the inside of your skull. The impact can damage brain cells and cause brain chemical changes.
Some symptoms occur immediately after the concussion. Others might show up hours or even days later. Short-term symptoms include: