What happens after Illinois residents like you suffer an injury to the head? You may develop symptoms that point to a concussion. Concussive injuries cover a large range of potential damage. Some concussions are a higher severity than others.
It is important to know the warning signs of a severe concussion. Head injuries may heal on their own in time. But some severe head injuries need medical intervention for proper treatment.
Differences between mild and severe symptoms
Mayo Clinic examines the severity of different levels of concussive injury. Symptoms are physical or non-physical. The more severe the concussion is, the more pronounced these symptoms tend to be. For example, you may experience a small headache or infrequent bouts of nausea. A mild concussion often has these symptoms. With a severe concussion, you may have a pounding headache. It could cause excruciating pain. Your nausea could feel crippling.
How symptom onset shows concussion severity
The onset of symptoms helps point to the severity of the injury, too. Some symptoms show immediately after an injury. Others may take a day or more to manifest. But the more severe an injury is, the faster these symptoms appear. For example, you may suffer from confusion or agitation. With a more severe concussion, you may experience these symptoms within hours.
Severe concussions often lead to issues like brain swelling. This may cause permanent damage to the brain if left untreated. For that reason, it is important to act fast after a head injury. You would benefit from a visit to a medical professional. This is true regardless of the onset of symptoms or the type that manifest.