Debunking Persistent Myths Related to Concussions

Concussions may be among the most misunderstood injuries. Even though we’ve collectively become more knowledgeable when it comes to concussions, many of us still struggle to recognize them. Many people are also unaware of the different effects that concussions can have on us.

The lack of knowledge about concussions has allowed certain myths to pop up. Some of those concussion myths have hung around for so long that you may sometimes hear them bandied about as facts.

Our goal with this article is to highlight those persistent myths and replace them with concussion facts.

The Myth: You can only sustain a concussion if you lose consciousness.

The Fact: Many believe that someone can only get concussed if they lose consciousness, but that is not the case at all. In reality, only around 10 percent of people who are concussed end up losing consciousness.

Also, it’s worth pointing out that not everyone who loses consciousness after absorbing a hit will be diagnosed with a concussion. You can lose consciousness after taking that hit and still be cleared of that injury.

The Myth: Concussions only occur after a blow to the head.

The Fact: Since a concussion is a brain injury, many people assume that you can only get it if you take a forceful hit to your head. However, that is not the case.

Any hit that causes your brain to slam against the inside of your skull can be concussive. If a car rear-ends you and causes your neck to whip back and forth violently, your brain could get injured too.

The Myth: Only forceful blows can cause concussions.

The Fact: Given the severity of a concussion, we tend to think that you can only get one if you take a really forceful hit. The concussive blow has to be a direct hit delivered with a lot of force.

You should know that concussions don’t work that way. A hit doesn’t have to be exceptionally forceful to cause a concussion.

That’s part of the reason why concussions are so dangerous. We cannot say that a blow is concussive purely by evaluating its force. Because of that, identifying concussions right away can prove to be a challenge.

The Myth: You cannot be allowed to sleep normally if you have a concussion.

The Fact: You’ll hear some people say that falling asleep is bad for you if you have a concussion or specific brain injury. As you’ve probably guessed, that’s not exactly true.

The first four hours or so after a person sustains a concussion are crucial. They can still develop a more serious injury within that timeframe, so they need to be checked on frequently.

The threat of a more serious injury developing drops significantly after those four hours pass. You can let the person rest after that, and they should be fine.

The Myth: A concussed individual should refrain from any activity.

The Fact: Resting after sustaining a concussion is a good idea, but remaining inactive until you recover is unnecessary. You can engage in some light activities and still feel fine. Just make sure that you do rest before you start getting a bit more active.

We hope that the details in this article have helped you understand concussions better. If you still have questions, feel free to consult with a professional so you can gain more clarity.

Categorised in: Health and Wellness Center

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