Heads up: What is a concussion? Updated February 12, American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Cleveland Clinic. Updated June 2, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Is it safe to sleep if you have a concussion? Updated March 8, Is it safe to sleep after a concussion? Updated July 29, How to sleep with a concussion.
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Sleep-Related Symptoms. Tips for Getting Rest After a Concussion. When to See a Doctor. Frequently Asked Questions. Serious Effects of Mild Concussions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
This is because they may not be able to effectively communicate how they are feeling. If an infant or young child experiences a blow to the head, parents and caregivers should look to their behavior for possible symptoms of concussion. Infants and young children who display any of the above symptoms require immediate medical attention.
A person with a suspected or confirmed concussion will require monitoring throughout their recovery. If a person goes to sleep following a head injury, they and those around them may miss the possible signs and symptoms of a brain injury. For this reason, medical experts used to advise that people stay awake throughout a concussion. Now, however, medical experts have access to sophisticated imaging techniques that allow them to check for any physical signs of head trauma.
Modern medical equipment also allows them to monitor people more easily. Rest is very important after a concussion because it helps the brain heal. Parents and caregivers of infants and young children who have a concussion will need to monitor them and ensure that they are getting enough rest. Adults with a concussion need to make sure that another adult is there to keep them company and to monitor their symptoms and recovery. Usually, a person will recover from a concussion within a few days to a few weeks.
Sometimes, however, the symptoms can last for longer. Post-concussion syndrome is the medical term for prolonged concussion symptoms. This condition occurs most commonly in people who have a history of multiple concussions. However, it can also occur following a single concussion. A person needs medical attention if they experience a blow to the head and develop any symptoms of a concussion.
A person should also contact their doctor if they experience any prolonged or worsening symptoms following a concussion. Experiencing a concussion can cause a person to develop bleeding in the brain that is contained between the surface of the brain and its outer covering.
This is known as a subdural hematoma SDH. An SDH can cause pressure to build up between the brain and the skull. This pressure can compress and damage the brain. Without treatment, it can be fatal. People who sustain a severe head injury may develop SDH symptoms soon after the incident.
Those who sustain a minor head injury may develop SDH symptoms days or even weeks after the injury. A person needs emergency medical attention if they or their child shows any symptoms of an SDH following a head injury.
Medical experts now agree that it is not necessary for a person to stay awake following a concussion. You may have heard that you should not let the person go to sleep, but is this true? It is generally considered safe for people with head injuries or concussions to go to sleep. In some cases, a doctor may recommend waking the person regularly to make sure his or her condition has not worsened. Many people will go to great lengths to keep a person who has had a head injury from falling asleep.
They argue that keeping the person awake will decrease the risk that he or she slips into a coma. This misunderstanding probably stems from hearing about a rare occurrence known as a lucid interval that has been associated with certain types of severe head injuries. A lucid interval occurs when the initial bleeding in the brain does not cause loss of consciousness. The bleeding eventually worsens and brain structures become compressed. Most medical professionals say it is fine—sometimes even advised—to let people sleep after incurring a head injury.
The American Academy of Family Physicians states it is not necessary to keep a person awake after a head injury. If a person needs to be watched that closely, a doctor will most likely admit him or her to the hospital.
The Dartmouth College of Sports Medicine advises that it is fine to go to sleep after a concussion so long as someone wakes you up every two hours. In a study in the September-October issue of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation , researchers reported greater levels of fatigue in people who have had head injuries, compared with those who have not.
The researchers concluded that regular rest breaks and increasing intervals of restful sleep should be a part of the rehabilitation from head injury. If you are around someone who has a head injury or possible concussion, monitor the symptoms closely. It is important to call a doctor or go to a hospital immediately if the person has worrisome symptoms such as:.
When a head injury is serious enough to require medical care, a doctor will give you instructions on how to monitor and treat the injury once the person is released from the hospital or clinic. These instructions will generally not include keeping the person awake and alert. Head injuries. Accessed November 5, Head injuries: what to watch for afterward. November 5, Head injury: concussion. Dartmouth College of Sports Medicine website.
Radiology for traumatic brain injury. Accessed July 23,
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