When Does a Concussion Become a Traumatic Brain Injury?

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The brain is the most important organ in the body. Unfortunately, traumatic brain injury can occur from serious accidents, and these accidents have the potential to change a person’s life forever. When someone sustains a concussion, they should seek medical care immediately. A concussion is an injury that causes the brain to start to swell. This swelling can cause permanent and severe damage if it is not promptly treated.

The swelling that causes the damage is a result of the soft tissue of the brain impacting the bones of the skull. After this collision occurs, bruising and bleeding often results. More importantly, these forms of damage cause the tissue in the skull to start to swell. This is particularly dangerous because the swelling in the skull causes the pressure to increase on sensitive nerve tissues. As the pressure increases, so does the damage to this sensitive tissue. As a result, it is vital to seek medical attention at the first signs of a concussion.

There are a variety of symptoms that accompany concussions. However, the most common symptoms are nausea, loss of consciousness, and severe headaches. Despite the fact that these symptoms seem extremely common, they are usually a sign that urgent medical attention is required. These symptoms are a result of the increased pressure that the brain is experiencing. In particular, this pressure has the capability of causing permanent damage to the synaptic pathways that nerve impulses travel along. This type of damage can result in a loss of motor and cognitive functions. Unfortunately, many people do not take these symptoms seriously. They assume that as time passes their symptoms will get better. However, this is not the case. Once concussion symptoms become noticeable, the damage has reached a critical level. If immediate care is not sought, then the individual could suffer irreversible damage to their mental functions.

Fortunately, when an individual suffers a traumatic brain injury, there are numerous treatment options that are available. However, these treatment options are only viable if the injury is treated shortly after it occurred. As time passes, the damage and symptoms will become increasingly severe. Furthermore, once the pressure reaches a certain point, the damage that it can cause will become irreversible. For these reasons, when someone is suspected to have suffered a concussion, it is vital that they receive immediate medical attention.