The medical term "concussion" refers to a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Most concussions are caused by either a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, but they may also occur when the body is hit, and it causes the head and brain to rapidly move in a back-and-forth motion. This rapid movement can cause the tissue of the brain to change shape, resulting in damaged brain cells that make it more difficult to communicate.
Most concussions are not life-threatening, but they should always be taken extremely seriously, especially because severe concussions can be life-changing*.
Causes of Concussions
According to the American Brain Foundation, approximately 1.6 to 3.8 million people will experience a concussion each year. Approximately half of those concussions go unreported or undetected. So, what causes a concussion? Almost anyone can experience a concussion, but young children, teenagers, and older adults aged 65 and older are at the highest risk. Males are at a higher risk than females, as are people serving in the military and any athletes who play contact sports. These two professions put people at an immediately higher risk of a concussion simply due to the nature of the job. Anyone with a history of multiple concussions is at a higher risk of having a longer recovery time and more severe symptoms.
Here are some of the most common causes of concussion:
- Car accidents with any form of impact
- Sports-related injuries (usually from high-contact sports like football, soccer, ice hockey, wrestling, or basketball)
- Slips and falls of any kind, including falling down the stairs, falling off a bicycle, or accidents on a playground
Fortunately, in some cases, you can minimize your chance of a concussion by wearing protective gear, including helmets or a seatbelt whenever you drive or ride in a car. These two simple measures will help to protect your head and body, reducing the odds of a severe impact. If you do suspect that you have a concussion, it's vital that you seek medical attention from a healthcare provider right away so you can be diagnosed and monitored. Severe concussions that go untreated may result in a variety of more severe symptoms later.
Symptoms of Concussion
While you might not get a concussion every time you hit your head, you must know what the symptoms of a concussion are. In some cases, a concussion may cause you to lose consciousness for a few seconds or even a few minutes. The most immediate symptoms include headaches, feeling dizzy and/or nauseated, vomiting, difficulty concentrating, or feeling groggy or fatigued. Some people report that they "see stars" after the initial impact which may or may not reoccur later. Other common symptoms include slurred speech, blurry vision, sleepiness, and mental confusion.
Most patients, particularly younger patients, report to their doctors that they just don't feel right. However, under careful observation, many physicians typically notice the following symptoms that might be indicative of a concussion:
- The patient can't remember what happened before or after a hit to the head or a serious fall
- Some patients present a "dazed" or "stunned" appearance
- The person could forget simple instructions or may become easily confused about simple things like the time, daily work tasks, or school assignments
- Some people may start to move clumsily or appear to be clumsier than normal
- Mood, behavior, or personality changes may occur
- Patients may answer questions slowly or briefly lose consciousness periodically
If you or someone you know suspects that you might have a concussion, it's imperative that you seek medical attention right away. While the short-term effects may last for just a few days, long-term effects can be serious. The lasting effects of a severe concussion might include symptoms like frequent and severe headaches, behavioral changes, and speech or memory issues. Always make sure that you get a diagnosis and speak to a healthcare professional if you think that you might have a concussion so you can get the recommended treatment you need for proper recovery.
Relief Methods for Concussion
If you are concussed, it's important to avoid taking medications that may increase the risk of bleeding, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium, within the first 24 hours. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken to help relieve the pain, and then the others are OK to take after the first 24 have passed. It's also imperative that you get restful sleep after a concussion to help improve recovery time. Make sure that you stay hydrated by consuming between 60 and 80 ounces of water per day, and stay away from caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and soda.
Another way to provide relief for mild to moderate concussion symptoms like headaches is to apply a source of cold to the head and neck area. While using an ice-cold compress has been shown to provide relief of migraines, this may also help with common concussion symptoms, too. Engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison cooled injured brain cells and discovered that they could be kept healthy even though they experienced a concussion. The study documents several benefits of cooling to help reduce things like inflammation, cerebral edema, and intracranial pressure. Icekap is designed to help provide relief for concussion symptoms, particularly headaches. It may also help to speed up your recovery time, so you can go back to doing the daily activities you enjoy.
Cold therapy is also known as cryotherapy, which refers to the general use of cold temperatures in medical therapy or the removal of heat from specific areas of the body. Using cold therapy like Icekap may help constrict swollen blood vessels to reduce pressure, thereby relieving the cause of pain.
Using Icekap for Concussion Relief
Here are some tips to ensure that you're using Icekap in the most effective way possible to give you concussion symptom relief, including headaches, nausea, and general pain.
- Apply Icekap to your head and neck immediately after a concussion.
- Keep Icekap on for at least two hours if possible - Icekap remains cold (or hot) for up to two full hours.
- Adjust the built-in compression band to provide soothing pressure to the key areas of your head that are injured or hurting.
- While using Icekap, remain in a cool, quiet, and comfortable place while you rest to improve recovery time.
- Icekap is suitable for any age and can be worn by children and adults under proper supervision.
Icekap intends to provide symptomatic relief from a concussion and other head-related ailments. The medical grade gels stay soft, even when frozen so they stay comfortable during application. You can also use Icekap hot, depending on your specific symptoms and needs.
The product features a soft and stretchy inner fleece material that helps with comfort, and the adjustable tension band allows for your desired level of compression.
Icekap is reusable and features high-quality, durable, machine-washable material for an affordable solution to concussion pain and much more. You'll get fast and effective all-natural relief for a variety of ailments.
*The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References:
https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/diseases/concussion/?c_src=gg&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk7ugBhDIARIsAGuvgPb_9vl15WaPvSYz8EbgHZPsNrwv8Eb9GeNqIugJNbh5cGm4JEj6-r4aAhLNEALw_wcB
https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_symptoms.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594