Concussion of the brain is a traumatic injury as a result of a violent blow, shaking, or spinning of the head. A brain concussion can cause immediate and usually temporary impairment of brain function such as thinking, vision, equilibrium and consciousness.

Objective Symptoms of concussion:

• Appearing dazed
• Vacant facial expression
• Confusion
• Loss of memory
• Disorientation
• Inappropriate emotional reaction
• Clumsiness
• Slow to answering questions
• Loss of consciousness
• Change in typical behaviour

Subjective symptoms of concussion:

• Double or fuzzy vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Feeling slowed down
• Feeling "foggy" or "not sharp"
• Headache
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Concentration or memory problems
• Irritability
• Sadness
• Feeling more emotional
• Change in sleep pattern

Recovery from concussion:

The best course of action is to seek medical attention. If you suspect concussion, hospitals tend to keep individuals in overnight if they suspect severe concussion. It takes considerable time and energy for the brain to correct this chemical imbalance. Changes in the brain start to resolve immediately, but the recovery time seems to vary. The time depends not only on the severity of the blow, but also on how many previous concussions a person has had.