Do I Have a Concussion Quiz: Symptoms, Tests & Next Steps

Understanding Concussions

Concussions are a form of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that makes the brain move rapidly in the skull. This sudden movement can cause stretching and damage to brain cells, leading to chemical changes and sometimes bruising.

A concussion results in a temporary dysfunction of brain cells that leads to signs and symptoms like headache, confusion, memory problems, dizziness, nausea, and more. Most concussions resolve over days to weeks but some can persist longer or lead to complications.

Causes of Concussions

Some common causes and activities associated with concussions include:

• Sports injuries like football, boxing, hockey, soccer, skiing, etc.
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Slips, falls or other impact injuries
• Assaults or fighting
• Recreational activities like biking, skateboarding, playground equipment

You do not need to lose consciousness or experience amnesia for a concussion to occur. The trauma causes a rapid deceleration force on the brain.

Concussion Symptoms

Symptoms from a concussion tend to appear right away but sometimes develop over hours or days. They typically resolve fully over 7-10 days but occasionally last for weeks or months.

Common concussion symptoms include:

• Headache or head pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness, feeling off balance
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Fatigue and feeling foggy
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
• Confusion, feeling slowed down
• Sleep problems like drowsiness or sleeping more/less than usual
• Emotional changes feeling nervous, sad, irritable etc.

Diagnosing a Concussion

Since concussions cannot be detected with brain scans or other imaging, doctors diagnose one based on the mechanism of injury and evaluation of signs/symptoms. They will perform a neurological exam assessing:

• Cognitive function and memory
• Balance, coordination and walking
• Vision
• Hearing and sensory function
• Reflexes

They also examine for red flag symptoms like severe headache, seizure, loss of consciousness, vomiting, strange behavior or rapidly worsening symptoms that require emergency care.

Do I Have a Concussion Quiz

Wondering whether your recent head injury resulted in a concussion? Take this concussion quiz to help evaluate your symptoms and determine if you likely suffered a concussion.

Did a Concussion Occur?

Answer the questions below about the injury event:

Did you experience any kind of blow, bump or jolt to your head or body that made your head and/or neck move forcefully or rapidly back and forth?

• Yes
• No
• Unsure

Did you lose consciousness or black out following the injury, even momentarily?

• Yes
• No

Were you confused, disoriented or did you experience memory problems right after the injury?

• Yes
• No

If you answered "Yes" to any of the questions above, you may have suffered a concussion based on the mechanism of injury. Keep going with the symptom quiz below.

Are You Experiencing Any Concussion Symptoms?

Below is a checklist of common concussion symptoms. Check all that you are currently experiencing:

• Headache or head pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness, feeling off balance
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Fatigue and feeling foggy
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Confusion, feeling slowed down
• Sleep problems
• Emotional changes

Are you experiencing any other concerning symptoms not listed above like:

• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe or worsening headaches
• Repeated vomiting
• Strange behavior or personality changes
• Increasing confusion
• Neck pain
• Trouble recognizing people/places
• Weakness or numbness in arms/legs
• Unusual eye movements or pupils

Interpreting Your Concussion Quiz Responses

If you answered YES to questions about the mechanism of injury and are experiencing any symptoms like headache, fatigue, memory problems etc you very likely suffered a concussion. Seek medical care immediately, even if symptoms are mild.

If you develop any red flag/emergency symptoms like repeated vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness, weakness etc call 911 or go to the ER right away. These indicate a more serious brain injury.

If your only symptom is mild headache or you have no symptoms but experience a concerning head injury see your doctor for evaluation. Symptoms can develop over hours or days following the initial trauma.

Print out your symptom checklist and bring it to your medical provider. Tracking your symptoms and any changes closely over the next days to weeks will be important for properly diagnosing and managing your concussion.

Seeking Medical Care for Concussion

It is crucial to seek prompt medical care if you suspect a concussion or have symptoms following any concerning blow or jolt to the head or body. Here is what to expect with getting diagnosed and treated.

Medical Evaluation

The key part of concussion diagnosis involves a detailed history/description of your injury event and evaluation of symptoms. Your doctor will:

• Ask questions about what happened and symptoms youre experiencing
• Conduct a neurological exam assessing cognition, balance etc.
• Review your symptom checklist and compare over time
• Determine how serious your concussion appears
• Assess need for brain imaging tests if symptoms severe

They will grade whether yours is a mild concussion or more serious. Most concussions seen are mild.

Treatment Guidelines

Treatment guidelines for an uncomplicated concussion focus on physical and mental rest while symptoms resolve followed by a gradual return to activity so as not to re-injure the still healing brain.

Typical concussion treatment/management involves:

• Cognitive and physical rest avoid mentally demanding and tiring activities
• Pain/symptom management OTC meds as recommended by your doctor
• Careful progression of activity steadily increase exertion level day-by-day
• Follow-up exams monitor recovery and watch for complications

Recovering fully from even a mild concussion often takes 7-14 days but occasionally longer before returning to sports/activities without restrictions.

Warning Signs to Return to the ER

Though initial symptoms may seem minor, they can rapidly worsen indicating more serious injury. Return immediately if you develop:

• Repeated vomiting
• Increasingly severe headaches
• Unusual pupil sizes
• Difficulty being awakened
• Slurred speech
• Confusion/irritability
• Dizziness/loss of coordination
• Weakness or numbness
• Seizures

Also return if your initial symptoms worsen instead of gradually improving over a few days.

Preventing Concussions

While not always avoidable, taking proper safety precautions can help decrease your changes of getting a concussion during sports, driving, and other risky activities.

Wear Protective Gear

Wear recommended protective equipment whenever participating in higher risk sports and activities like:

• Helmets for football, baseball, softball, hockey, skiing etc.
• Padded headgear for boxing, martial arts, rugby
• Face masks for hockey and football players
• Elbow/knee pads and mouth guards when appropriate like skating, skateboarding

Protective gear should fit properly and be well maintained. Replace equipment following any significant impact or damage.

Drive and Ride Safely

Vehicle crashes are a common cause of concussion. Always wear seat belts, obey speed limits, avoid distractions like phones when driving and never drive impaired. Choose vehicles with optimal safety ratings.

Prepare for Play Properly

Before starting sports practice or competitions, make sure to properly hydrate, adequately warm up/stretch muscles and do skill-building neck strengthening exercises. Ensure proper skill development like safe tackling in football to avoid head injuries.

Consider baseline computerized pre-season neurocognitive testing to allow meaningful comparisons should an athlete suffer a later concussion.

Being alert and taking precautions around risky activities can help minimize concussion risk. But ultimately accidents do still happen. Seeking prompt treatment is key to properly recovering should you develop symptoms after any significant head trauma.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.