5 Things You May Not Know About Head Injuries
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that as many as 3.8 million Americans suffer a concussion every year in sports or recreation-related activities. Of course, concussions are also common in other situations—falls, car accidents, and falling objects can all lead to head injury. Here are some facts you may not know about concussions:
- Women are more prone to suffering concussions than men—Biologically, women’s brains are different, and studies show they are more likely to suffer migraines and more susceptible to concussions.
- Helmets don’t prevent concussions—Though a helmet can minimize the risk of a skull fracture or certain types of penetration injuries, they are not designed to keep you safe from concussions.
- You don’t need a direct blow to the head to get a concussion—While many concussions do result from a direct blow, you also can suffer a concussion if your head violently snaps back and forth (whiplash), causing your brain to bounce off your skull bone.
- You need only one symptom to be diagnosed with a concussion—You don’t need a whole collection of symptoms for a doctor to determine you have a concussion. A single symptom that persists can be enough. A headache that won’t go away, continual balance issues or vertigo, persistent sensitivity to sound or light—any one of these may indicate that you have a concussion.
- You can’t diagnose a concussion with an X-ray, CT scan or MRI—Imaging tests won’t show the presence of a concussion. These tests are primarily used to determine whether there is structural damage to the brain, particularly the bones and connective tissue. A concussion involves functional changes in the brain.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer a concussion injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio.
