Good for the elderly
Rest is critical in the treatment of concussions, including obtaining sufficient of sleep at night as well as taking naps or taking rest intervals throughout the day as needed. Your doctor will most likely advise you to refrain from participating in some physical activities and sports while you are recovering, and he or she may prescribe medication if you get a headache.
While concussion treatment for an older adult is different from that of a young athlete, the aim is the same: to get the patient back to the level of activity that they were at before to the injury.
Treatment 1 Getting enough physical and mental rest. Relative rest is the most effective strategy to allow your brain to recover after a concussion in the first few days following the injury. 2 Getting back into the swing of things. 3 Pain alleviation is provided.
And, because less than half of seniors tell their doctors when they have a fall, a concussion isn’t always the first thing you think of when your elderly loved one begins to exhibit symptoms, especially if the fall did not result in any broken bones. However, if your elderly loved one begins to exhibit symptoms, you should consult your doctor.
The difficulty in diagnosing concussions in seniors is often due to the fact that many of the symptoms are shared with other ailments and conditions. Therefore, when evaluating symptoms, the best thing to do is to consider whether your elderly loved one has recently suffered a fall as a starting point.
The majority of patients have symptoms within the first seven to ten days, which subside within three months. They can last for up to a year or more in some cases.
Those concussion symptoms may prompt older folks — even those who lead busy, vibrant lives — to ″hide away,″ which can lead to social isolation and a significant decline in physical and social engagement if not treated properly. ″If a concussion is not treated properly, the elderly’s quality of life might deteriorate.
Nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and/or noise, balance difficulty, and weariness are some of the physical symptoms that might occur. Irritability, melancholy, moodiness, and anxiety are some of the emotional symptoms that might occur.
The most effective therapy for post-concussion syndrome is rest. If you have taken a prescription pain reliever, do not go behind the wheel. Maintain silence and darkness in your room until your headache has passed. Close your eyes and attempt to relax or fall asleep as soon as possible.
An elderly person who falls and strikes their head should consult a doctor as soon as possible to ensure that they do not have a brain damage or other serious health problem. Many people who fall, even if they are not hurt, develop a fear of falling in the future.
There are three levels of difficulty: Symptoms that persist less than 15 minutes and do not result in loss of consciousness are classified as Grade 1 symptoms. Symptoms lasting more than 15 minutes and with no loss of consciousness are classified as grade 2. Grade 3: Severe, with the victim losing consciousness for a short period of time, perhaps only a few seconds.
If a concussion is not treated immediately, it might result in long-term consequences. Chronic headaches, memory issues, vertigo, and post-concussion syndrome, which is characterized by headaches, dizziness, mood swings, and brain fog that can last for months or years after a concussion, are all possible sequelae of a concussion.
1 An overnight stay in the hospital for surveillance is sometimes recommended following a head injury, although it is very seldom necessary in most cases. An intervention such as surgery would only be required in the case of a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). In reality, the most effective treatment for a concussion is rest—and I mean complete and utter rest.
Vomiting or nausea on a regular basis, as well as convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching). Unusual behavior, increasing bewilderment, restlessness, or agitation are all signs of schizophrenia. Passing out or being knocked out is the loss of consciousness. If you have a momentary loss of consciousness, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Follow your doctor’s instructions, but some self-care advice are as follows:
If you believe you’ve had a concussion, you should avoid using other pain killers such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others). These have the potential to raise the risk of bleeding.