How Long Can a Concussion Go Undetected?
The country is facing an epidemic of brain injuries, and it’s fueling the mental health crisis. An estimated 1.7 million people experience a concussion each year, and millions more go undiagnosed. These mild head injuries, which can lead to a host of mental health problems, may remain hidden for decades, In some cases, they may go undetected for a lifetime.
This means many people may have no idea that a traumatic brain injury (TBI) could be behind their depression, anxiety, memory loss, or other behavioral disorders. This can have a negative impact on every aspect of your life. In some instances, it might even change history.
Mild head injuries, which can lead to a host of mental health problems, may remain hidden for decades or a lifetime.
HOW CONCUSSIONS CAN IMPACT EVERYDAY LIFE AND HUMAN HISTORY
Consider an example nearly 500 years old that Yale neurologists have put to diagnostic scrutiny. Centuries after his erratic rule ended in 1597, scientists have been revisiting the medical history of the English King Henry VIII. This monarch wed 6 times and infamously beheaded 2 of his wives. Along the way, he caused a schism in Christianity that created the Church of England. During his athletic 30s, the king sustained several head injuries, a pair of which occurred in jousting matches. In the first, an opponent’s lance pierced the visor of his helmet. In the second, he was unconscious for a couple of hours after a horse fell on him. The researchers suggest that the impact of those blows was similar to the TBIs suffered by today’s football players. Before his injuries, the young king was described as a “vigorous, generous, and intelligent king,” according to the Yale neurologists’ study published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. After the head injuries, the researchers write that he became “cruel, petty, and tyrannical.” The king began displaying memory loss, explosive bursts of anger, impulsivity, and insomnia. Some historical research suggests he struggled with sexual dysfunction, which might have contributed to his marital troubles. A 2020 study on professional football players in JAMA Neurology found that the more concussion symptoms experienced the higher the chances of erectile dysfunction. Could hidden concussions have been behind some of the most monumental shifts in modern European history? Is a past concussion or are multiple head injuries impacting your life?WHY DO SO MANY CONCUSSIONS GO UNDIAGNOSED?
It’s common for head injuries to go undetected. Based on the brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics, about 40% of patients have experienced a significant brain injury. Surprisingly, many of these individuals don’t recall having sustained a head injury. In some cases, they may remember a bump or blow to the head, but they think it was too minor to mention. In other instances, they may have experienced repetitive sub-concussive blows to the head. These are impacts, such as repeatedly heading a soccer ball, that don’t cause immediate symptoms. However, the cumulative effects may cause long-term problems over time. When consequences linger for years, it’s called post-concussion syndrome. Unfortunately, many of these individuals never connect the dots from a minor injury that happened years earlier to the mental health issues they are currently facing.CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS
Head injuries can cause a wide variety of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms. Some signs of a concussion include:- Confusion
- Memory problems
- Anxiousness
- Difficulty concentration
- Mood issues
- Temper problems
- Trouble sleeping
- Suicidal thoughts
- ADD/ADHD
- Anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Depression
- Addictions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Personality disorders
- Psychosis
- Dementia
COMMON CAUSES OF CONCUSSIONS
Common causes of head trauma include falls, motor vehicle accidents, military combat, violence, and sports injuries.Falls
- Falling off a ladder or roof
- Falling out of a bunk bed or out of a tree
- Falling backward and striking your head
- Falling on your head while doing gymnastics or cheerleading
Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Hitting your head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or window
- Getting whiplash
Military Combat
- Explosive blasts
- Gunshot wounds
Violence
- Physical assaults involving the head.
Sports Injuries
- Getting hit in the head by a baseball, bat, or hockey stick
- Repeatedly getting punched or hit in the face or head in boxing or martial arts
- Repeatedly heading soccer balls
- Repeatedly getting tackled or hit in the head in contact sports
DIAGNOSIS AND CONCUSSION TREATMENT
If you suspect a head injury, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis. Functional brain imaging, such as SPECT, can be beneficial in revealing areas of the brain that have been damaged. Knowing which parts of the brain aren’t functioning optimally can be helpful in creating a targeted treatment program. To heal from brain injuries, it’s important to take an integrative approach that includes lifestyle changes and more. Concussion rescue strategies that can be helpful include:- Stop smoking.
- Stop drinking sodas.
- Eliminate alcohol.
- Reduce sugar consumption.
- Increase water intake.
- Eat organic, nutrient-dense foods.
- Take omega-3 fatty acids to support overall brain health.
- Take herbs and supplements such as ginkgo biloba to support blood flow.
- Increase exercise to boost blood flow to the brain.
- Try hyperbaric oxygen chamber (HBOT) treatments.
- Consider neurofeedback therapy.
- Test and optimize hormone levels—they are often low in people who have sustained concussions.
