What is a concussion? Signs, symptoms & steps to recovery
Medically reviewed by Dr. Betsy Koickel, MD on September 30th, 2025.
In the United States, approximately 1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur each year. Many medical providers believe the figure is much higher due to significant under-reporting or unrecognized injury.
A concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.
Concussions can have potentially harmful cumulative effects, resulting in long-term changes in brain function.
Concussion symptoms
Here are some common concussion symptoms:
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Confusion or concentration or memory problems
- Double or blurry vision
- Feeling "foggy" or "out of it"
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
- Headache or “pressure” in the head
- Loss of equilibrium
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Visual or auditory disruptions
How to know if you have a concussion: recognizing the signs
Signs of a concussion are often reported by observers of the injured person. You may observe the following:
- Answers questions slowly
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Can’t recall events before or after a hit or fall
- Decreased information processing
- Forgets an instruction
- Is confused when given even simple tasks
- Moves clumsily
- Loss of consciousness
- Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes
Signs and symptoms generally show up soon after the injury. However, you may not know how serious the injury is at first, and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. Keep a close eye on any new developments that may occur, especially if you were the observer of a concussion.
Can you go to urgent care for a concussion?
Yes, you can go to urgent care for a concussion if symptoms are not severe. Urgent care centers can evaluate head injuries, perform basic neurological checks and advise on next steps. We have many referral partners if further follow-up is required.
Suspected concussion sufferers can expect the following during their visit:
- A neurological checkup, in which an urgent care professional examines reflexes, vision (following a finger), hearing, strength and balance. Our skilled providers can help identify the severity of a concussion from this non-invasive assessment.
- A cognitive examination, where the healthcare provider asks a few questions to check long- and short-term memory, awareness and other vital brain functions.
- In case a healthcare provider suspects a potentially life-threatening injury, you might be fast-tracked to a radiology appointment or the nearest emergency room for advanced imaging. A CT scan or MRI will be able to show the extent of damage and swelling in the brain.
Should I go to the hospital for a concussion?
If you are displaying very serious signs such as an inability to wake up, seizures or repeated vomiting, you should seek immediate care in the emergency room right away.
Other potential warning signs of serious brain injury include:
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
- Drowsiness or inability to wake up.
- Have had multiple concussions in the past.
- Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out)—even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.
- One pupil is larger than the other.
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination.
- Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching).
- Unusual behavior, such as increased confusion, restlessness or agitation.
However, if the concussion involves a loss of consciousness, uncontrolled vomiting, seizures, worsening confusion or trouble walking or speaking, you should go to the ER instead. These may be signs of a more serious brain injury.
When are concussions most commonly incurred?
Occupational hazards, car accidents and other fateful events that cause a blow or jolt to the head can occur at any time. However, athletes—especially those in organized sports such as football, baseball, boxing, or hockey—are at the greatest risk for a concussion.
Athletes in these sports are subject to multiple concussions over time, and it is one of the most common sports injuries seen on the sidelines.
Incurring multiple concussions can lead to permanent brain damage, which can put professional athletes at a very pivotal moment, looking at the end of their career in sports.
What do I do if I have a concussion?
It's not always possible to predict exactly who should go to the emergency room, who is safe to see a doctor in an urgent care office the next day and who can just go home and rest.
Whenever you are not sure, it's always better to be evaluated by a medical professional. However, signs of a concussion usually shed light as to whether a head injury can be taken care of at urgent care or warrants an immediate trip to the emergency room.
Whatever you do, don't return to play on the same day as the concussion. Athletes should never return to play with signs or symptoms of a concussion and be medically evaluated by a sports medicine professional – someone with a specialization in neurotrauma.
How to recover from a concussion
Rest and length of recovery time are very important after a concussion because they help the brain heal. You may also need to limit activities while recovering from a concussion.
Physical activities or activities that involve a lot of concentration, such as studying or working on the computer, may cause mild symptoms (such as a headache or tiredness) to get worse. Recurring concussions should be reported to your doctor right away for further testing and evaluation.
When your provider says you are well enough, you can return to your normal activities slowly. Take it easy and do not resume all of your activities at once.
Talk with your medical provider about when you should return to your daily activities and how to deal with challenges during your recovery. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the signs of a concussion and how to treat a concussion.
Do I have to lose consciousness to have a concussion?
No, you do not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Many concussions occur without fainting or blacking out.
How long does it take to recover from a concussion?
Most people will recover in 1–2 weeks, but symptoms can last longer, especially in children or if it's not your first concussion.
Is it safe to take pain medicine for a concussion headache?
Yes, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is generally safe for headaches. Avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin in the first 24–48 hours due to bleeding risk unless advised by a healthcare provider.
What is the difference between a concussion and a TBI?
A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI), but TBIs can be more severe than a concussion.
When can my child return to sports after a concussion?
Your child can return to sports after the symptoms are gone and a healthcare provider has cleared them. Returning too soon increases the risk of serious complications.
Is it okay to go to sleep after a concussion?
Yes, it's safe to sleep as long as the person is awake, alert and has been evaluated for serious symptoms.
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