How do you know if you’ve had a concussion?
A. A concussion is a brain injury that occurs when the brain accelerates in a spinning motion because of a blow to the head or body, or a fall, jolt, or other force. The injury causes a temporary impairment of the brain’s normal function. Although many people think of a concussion as getting “knocked out,’’ less than 10 percent of concussions actually cause a loss of consciousness. William Meehan, director of the Sports Concussion Clinic at Children’s Hospital, says that the most common symptom is headaches, which affect about 93 percent of people with concussion. The second most common symptom is dizziness and balance problems, and the third is difficulty concentrating. Other complaints are nausea, confusion, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and memory problems.