As the world of science has expanded, concussions have begun to be understood more. Even when I was in high school, concussions were not that big of a deal. Now, concussions are treated with a lot more care, as they should be. It was until recently that I truly understood just how serious a concussion can be. Having had two concussions myself, I now realize I did not take them as serious as I should have.
Concussions are essentially a hard blow to the head. But, the underlying mechanisms that go on after the hit is what causes all of the symptoms such has headaches and nausea. At the molecular level, many non-specific depolarizations start to occur after an impact. As the neurons begin to fire, there is a release of excitatory neurotransmitters, which is followed by an efflux of potassium. Many ionic membrane pumps begin to go into overdrive, trying to retain homeostasis. This is coupled with an increase need for ATP due to the extra work of the ionic pumps. The cells are launched into hyperglycolysis as they try to keep up with the energy demands. After a concussion, the cell membranes also become “leaky” resulting in an increase of calcium inside of the cell. This also results in more action potentials, and contributes to the increased energy demand.
Eventually, the energy demand becomes too much and results in a decrease in ATP production. This leads to a hypometabolism state, which is in my opinion, the key part to understand in a concussion. If an area of the brain is unable to produce the energy it needs in order to meet baseline needs, then the brain obviously needs to rest. This is why doctors recommend as much rest as possible immediately after a concussion. This includes: no sports, no screen time, and less school time.
Taking a physician seriously with all of their recommendations for a concussion can be difficult. How can a person just not go to school for a few days? The hypometabolism that results from a concussion needs rest in order to attain normal order again. The brain will not be able to rest as efficiently if a person is trying to listen to a lecture or do homework. Without the needed rest, the brain is more susceptible to a second concussion, which would result in going back to square one for recovery. This is why it is very important to take the recommended time to rest in order to allow a speedy recovery and to get back to normal everyday life.
After learning how important rest is for concussion recovery, I know that I did not take the needed care after I had mine. This can be scary, because I may have left my brain to be more susceptible to re-injury or possible some other effects later in life. So, my message to you: give your brain the rest it needs after you experience a concussion, that really is the best “medicine” for it.
Concussions: Should We Take Them More Seriously?
