A concussion happens when a sudden blow or jolt to the head or body causes the brain to twist and shift violently inside the skull, damaging cells. This injury, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury, can have long-lasting symptoms that are often ignored.

These include blurry vision, memory problems, headaches, dizziness, and a change in sleep patterns. Read on to discover why these seemingly minor injuries can have such significant health consequences.

Headache

Sometimes, a concussion causes symptoms that don’t show up right away. This may happen because the injury is mild or because the symptoms are so subtle that they don’t appear immediately. It may also be because the brain needs time to recover from the trauma, and changes in its chemical makeup can result in delayed symptoms.

The most common delayed concussion symptoms include a headache, dizziness, and memory issues. They can feel similar to migraines or tension-type headaches and can be aggravated by light, sound, or movement.

The best way to help relieve the symptoms is to follow a 48-hour rest period and avoid taking NSAIDs like Ibuprofen. This will allow the brain to heal without re-injuring it. Symptoms will generally get better after that, but it is essential to be cautious, especially with sports or other activities that could lead to another head injury.

Dizziness

Many concussion victims experience dizziness after a blow to the head. It can make you feel like the room is spinning or as if you are falling. It may be triggered by movements such as turning your head too quickly.

Unlike the headaches, this symptom doesn’t seem to be related to how bad your concussion was. This is because your brain prioritizes which symptoms to fix first, and vestibular issues may not get top priority.

The good news is that, with plenty of rest and specialist support where necessary, most concussions recover in a few weeks. But if the dizziness persists, speak to your doctor. They can help you with a series of exercises that can be done at home to aid the recovery of your inner ears and balance.

Memory issues

While many concussion symptoms appear right away, they don’t always. In some cases, a person may experience delayed concussion symptoms such as memory issues, headaches, exhaustion, and disturbed sleep.

In some people, these symptoms can last weeks, months, or even years after the initial concussion. This is called post-concussion syndrome, and medical professionals believe that structural changes caused by the head injury play a role in this.

These changes can affect the brain’s work and may lead to problems like blurry vision, double vision, or sensitivity to light or sound. They can also cause irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating. Knowing about these long-lasting symptoms is essential so you can seek immediate medical assistance. These symptoms could be a sign of a more severe head injury.

Exhaustion

Fatigue is a common complaint affecting people from all walks of life. Everyone feels tired occasionally, and most fatigue disappears when a person recovers from a short illness or gets better sleep.

However, for a concussion, fatigue is much more severe because it can be connected to long-lasting symptoms such as post-concussion syndrome. Those lasting concussion symptoms are caused by structural changes in the brain that have yet to heal from the original traumatic head injury fully.

With regular brain function, communication “traffic” is evenly distributed along the existing pathways in the brain. If the brain is injured, some pathways cannot correctly deliver blood and oxygen to cells. As a result, the other pathways must work extra hard to carry all that traffic, which leads to exhaustion.

Disrupted sleep

While getting enough sleep is a critical component to maintaining a healthy body, constantly waking up throughout the night and unable to get back to sleep can cause numerous issues. These can include irritability, daytime sleepiness, health risks, and more.

While most concussion symptoms show up right away, it is possible that they will not appear until days or even weeks after the injury. This doesn’t mean the injury has worsened, but it can be due to changes in brain chemistry as the brain heals itself after the trauma.

Delayed concussion symptoms are common among people who already suffer from mood disorders like depression, anxiety, or PTSD. The condition is also more commonly seen in older patients and women.