Recognize
symptoms of a concussion
Everyone can help recognize a possible concussion
if they know what to look for.
A person with a concussion might have any of the
signs or symptoms listed below. They might show up right away or hours, or even
days later. Just one sign or symptom is enough to suspect a concussion. Most
people with a concussion do not lose consciousness.
Common
signs and symptoms
Physical
- Headache
- Pressure
in the head
- Dizziness
- Nausea
or vomiting
- Blurred
vision
- Sensitivity
to light or sound
- Ringing
in the ears
- Balance
problems
- Tired
or low energy
- Drowsiness
- “Don’t
feel right”
Sleep-related
- Sleeping
more or less than usual
- Having
a hard time falling asleep
Cognitive
(Thinking)
- Not
thinking clearly
- Slower
thinking
- Feeling
confused
- Problems
concentrating
- Problems
remembering
Emotional
- Irritability
(easily upset or angered)
- Depression
- Sadness
- Nervous
or anxious
Red Flags
“Red flags” may mean the person has a more serious injury. Treat red
flags as an emergency and call 911.
Red flags include:
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Double vision
- Weakness or tingling in arms
or legs
- Severe or increasing
headache
- Seizure or convulsion
- Loss of consciousness
(knocked out)
- Vomiting more than once
- Increasingly restless,
agitated or aggressive
- Getting more and more
confused