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Understanding Concussions: What Happens to Your Brain

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs when a bump, blow, or jolt to the head changes how your brain normally works. It can also happen from hits to the body that are so forceful your head and brain move back and forth quickly inside your skull. When this happens, brain cells are stretched and damaged, and chemical changes occur in the brain. These changes can affect how a person thinks, moves, and feels.

Concussions happen more often than many people realize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly 2.8 million traumatic brain injury-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths occur annually in the United States. About 75% of these are concussions. Children and teens are at higher risk, with emergency rooms treating about 635,000 children and adolescents for nonfatal traumatic brain injuries each year. Athletes in contact sports like football, hockey, and soccer, as well as military service members, face increased risk.

The physical mechanism of a concussion involves rapid movement of the brain inside the skull. When your head is struck or your body experiences a violent jolt, your brain can move forward, backward, or side to side within the skull. This movement stretches and damages brain cells and creates chemical imbalances. The injury doesn't always involve losing consciousness—in fact, most concussions occur without any loss of consciousness at all. Many people experience a concussion and continue their day without realizing what happened.

Different types of impacts can cause concussions. A direct blow to the head is one way, but a forceful hit to the body can also cause your head and brain to move violently. Falls are the leading cause of concussions for adults over 65, while for children and younger adults, sports injuries and motor vehicle crashes are common causes. Even lower-speed collisions can result in concussions, particularly if a person's head or body experiences sudden acceleration or deceleration.

Understanding that concussions are real injuries affecting the brain's function is the first step toward recognizing them and taking them seriously. A free concussion information guide can explain the science behind what happens at the cellular level, why symptoms develop, and why rest and recovery matter. This knowledge helps individuals, parents, coaches, and healthcare providers understand that a concussion is not something to dismiss or "play through."

Practical Takeaway: Recognize that concussions are brain injuries caused by impact or forceful movement, not just bumps that cause headaches. They can happen in sports, falls, car accidents, or workplace incidents and may or may not involve loss of consciousness.

Recognizing Concussion Symptoms in Different Age Groups

Concussion symptoms vary from person to person and can appear immediately or develop over hours or days following an injury. Many symptoms are physical, but others are cognitive (thinking-related) or emotional. A free concussion guide typically outlines these symptoms across different categories to help people recognize when they or someone else may have experienced a concussion.

In adults, common physical symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, balance problems, fatigue, sensitivity to light or noise, and sleep disturbances. Cognitive symptoms in adults might include difficulty concentrating, memory problems, feeling confused or disoriented, and slower thinking or reaction times. Emotional symptoms can include irritability, sadness, nervousness, and mood changes. Some adults report feeling "foggy" or having trouble processing information they normally handle easily.

Children and adolescents may show different symptom patterns than adults. Young children might have trouble expressing what they're feeling, so behavioral changes are particularly important to notice. A child with a concussion might cry more easily, seem confused, complain of a headache or dizziness, have trouble following directions, lose interest in play or favorite activities, or display changes in sleep patterns. Teenagers might report similar symptoms to adults but may also show school performance changes, increased emotional reactions, or withdrawal from social activities.

Older adults present another consideration. Fall-related concussions in people over 65 are increasingly common, yet symptoms are sometimes attributed to aging or other conditions. An older adult with a concussion might experience dizziness, imbalance, headache, confusion, or memory problems. Sometimes family members initially think these changes are normal aging rather than injury-related. This is why knowing concussion signs is important across all age groups.

One important fact: a person does not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion. This is a common misconception. Research shows that only about 10% of concussions involve loss of consciousness. Many people experience a concussion, continue their day, and develop symptoms hours or days later. Additionally, a person can have a concussion even if they don't remember the injury happening. This is why information guides stress observation and attention to symptom changes rather than relying on memory of impact.

Knowing what to look for helps people make informed decisions about whether to seek medical evaluation. Different sports organizations, school districts, and workplaces provide concussion guides because recognizing symptoms quickly can influence recovery outcomes.

Practical Takeaway: Learn the physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms of concussion in your age group. Remember that a person can have a concussion without losing consciousness, and symptoms may appear immediately or develop over time.

What to Do Immediately After a Suspected Concussion

Immediate actions following a suspected concussion can significantly influence safety and recovery. An informational guide about concussions typically outlines steps that individuals, parents, coaches, and bystanders can take when they suspect someone has experienced a concussion. These steps prioritize safety and proper evaluation.

The first and most important action is to stop the activity immediately. If someone is injured during sports, work, or play, they should not continue participating. This isn't being overly cautious—it's a safety principle supported by medical research. Continuing activity after a concussion increases the risk of further injury, and in rare cases, a second impact before the first concussion heals can lead to serious complications. Athletes, workers, and individuals in potentially dangerous situations should remove themselves or be removed from the situation.

Second, check for any immediate danger or severe injuries. A person with a concussion might also have other injuries like a broken bone, spinal injury, or severe bleeding. If there are signs of serious injury—heavy bleeding, inability to move, loss of consciousness lasting more than a few seconds, repeated vomiting, or severe headache—emergency services should be called immediately by dialing 911.

Third, seek medical evaluation. A healthcare provider should assess the person who may have a concussion. This might be at an urgent care clinic, emergency room, or doctor's office. The provider will ask questions about what happened, check symptoms, perform balance and coordination tests, and assess thinking and memory. Some people receive imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs, though these don't always show concussions—they're sometimes used to rule out more serious brain injuries. A medical evaluation is important because a healthcare provider can give guidance specific to that person's situation.

While waiting for or during medical evaluation, several actions support safety. Keep the person calm and quiet in a dimly lit, calm environment if possible. Avoid giving medication unless instructed by a healthcare provider. Don't let the person drive or operate machinery—they have impaired thinking and reaction time. Have someone stay with them. Take notes about what happened, what symptoms are present, and when symptoms started. This information helps healthcare providers understand the injury.

For parents and coaches, many concussion information guides explain how to communicate with the person about what happened and what to expect next. Honest, clear communication reduces anxiety. Explaining that a concussion is a brain injury that needs recovery time, similar to other injuries, helps people understand why activity limitations matter.

Practical Takeaway: Stop the activity immediately, check for serious injury, seek medical evaluation, keep the person calm and monitored, and gather information about the injury. These steps protect safety while the person gets appropriate professional assessment.

Recovery Guidelines and Activity Restrictions

Recovery from a concussion is not one-size-fits-all, but information guides outline general principles that healthcare providers often recommend. The traditional approach of complete bed rest has evolved. Current understanding suggests that some physical and cognitive activity can support recovery, but the type and timing matter significantly. A healthcare provider can give individual guidance, but general information about recovery can help people understand what to expect.

The first days after injury typically involve what's called "cognitive and physical rest." This doesn't mean complete inactivity, but rather