How to heal from a concussion.
Posted by
Ed SmithOctober 13, 2006 9:13 AMMany of us have seen professional athletes endure concussions. Suffering the effects of concussions have cut short the careers of superstars such as Steve Young of the San Francisco 49ers and Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys.
In addition to competitive team sports, auto accidents and slip and falls are a leading cause of concussions and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
How does one help themselves to heal from a concussion?
The process of recovery from a concussion may take weeks, if not months. Experts recommend the following:
* Get plenty of sleep at night and rest during the day.
* Slow your activities levels down. Don't do too much, too fast.
* Avoid highly physical activities such as contact or recreational sports.
* Consult with your doctor about when it's safe to return to sports, drive a car or motorcycle, or operate equipment or machinery. It is important to keep in mind that your ability to react to stimuli, while recovering from a concussion, may be impaired.
* Don't drink alcohol.
* Make a habit of writing things down instead of depending on your memory.
* Consult with family and friends before making important decisions.
Recovering from a concussion can be frustrating because your ability to think clearly or remember things may be impaired, and as a result, you're more easily aggravated or agitated.
It is important that those close to you are aware of this and are watchful of these symptoms worsening so your doctor can be informed and additional treatment provided promptly