Common Misconceptions About Concussions

As long as the condition has been recognized, there have been many misconceptions about concussions. This particular traumatic brain injury (TBI) presents scenarios that are prone to serve misinformation and cause confusion. Spreading these concussion myths and holding them up to be gospel truth helps no one and hurts so many. Hence the team at Broadview would you to know some common misconceptions about concussions.

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Misconception #1 - Concussions Always Involve Unconsciousness
Misconception #2 - Concussions Cannot Happen Without A Blow To The Head
Misconception #3 - Concussions Don’t Need Treatment To Heal Properly
Misconceptions #4 - Only Athletes Can Get Concussions
Misconception #5 - A Medical Scan Can Confirm No Concussion

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Misconception #1 - Concussions Always Involve Unconsciousness

One of the most common misconceptions about concussions is that if you didn’t lose consciousness, you can’t have a concussion. That implies that just because you managed to stay awake during the event that hurt you, it couldn’t have been serious.

However, many people suffer concussions without losing consciousness. While a loss of consciousness is an indicator of a concussion, its absence isn’t a sign of typical brain function. Other symptoms like headaches, disorientation, memory loss, light or sound sensitivity, etc, can also point to a concussion.

Misconception #2 - Concussions Cannot Happen Without A Blow To The Head

Another of the concussion misconceptions is that you can’t get a concussion if your head wasn’t injured. This misconception suggests that if you hurt anywhere but your head, you are safe from concussions.

The truth is that concussions can occur from a blow to the body. If the blow causes the body to move such that the head moves rapidly back and forth, the brain can bounce off the walls of the skull. These impacts can cause traumatic brain injuries that lead to concussions.

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Misconception #3 - Concussions Don’t Need Treatment To Heal Properly

A widely spread concussion myth is that concussions can fully heal on their own. If they are left alone and ignored, the brain can easily recover from the damage.

The plain and simple fact is that concussions require medical treatments and some time of rest to properly recover. Not only is this necessary to heal, but the treatment and rest also ensure that the brain cannot receive any further injuries. In its concussed state, any more damage to the brain is usually fatal.

Misconception #4 - Only Athletes Can Get Concussions

Another one of the misconceptions about concussions is that the only people who can get them are athletes. The implicit understanding of this myth is that those who leave a relatively normal lifestyle with less strenuous physical activity cannot get concussions.

When it comes to concussions, the fact is that anyone can get a concussion. Any event that causes trauma, like a car accident, an object landing on your head, a fall, etc, can lead to a concussion. Athletes may have a higher risk of getting concussions but even minor injuries can lead to TBIs too

Misconception #5 - A Medical Scan Can Confirm No Concussion

Another fact that is instead a concussion myth is that scans like x-rays and CT scans can detect concussions. As such, if any of those scans return clear results then there is no concussion.

While medical scans can detect brain bleeds, cracked skulls and other forms of TBIs, they cannot detect concussions. Hence, they should not be used for diagnosing this condition. The symptoms of concussions are the only accurate indicators that can be relied on.

Broadview Spine & Health Centre - Ottawa’s Advanced Concussion Clinic

The many misconceptions about concussions only serve to confuse the average citizen and worsen conditions that could be resolved simply. Understanding the simple and verifiable concussion facts can help prevent more serious brain injuries from occurring.

Please contact us if you need any help recovering from concussions. Broadview Spine and Health Centre use a revolutionary approach based on research to improve the health of our patients. Our team covers a wide variety of services to facilitate recovery from brain injuries, movement disorders and other neurological issues. Choose us to ensure your health is never in jeopardy.

Common Misconceptions About Concussions

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