How to Recognize a Concussion After a Head Injury

After any hit to the head, watch for these signs: confusion, headache, nausea, slurred speech, unequal pupils, dizziness, or excessive sleepiness. The tricky part is that symptoms can appear hours later, so the person may seem fine initially. Do not let the person sleep unsupervised for the first 24 hours — wake them every 2-3 hours to check responsiveness. Any loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, or worsening symptoms means emergency room immediately. When in doubt, get it checked — concussions are invisible injuries that can have serious consequences if ignored.