Concussion is a mild type of brain injury that occurs when the brain gets shaken up inside the skull. This can occur with a direct blow, like when the head hits the ground hard during a fall. Or it can be indirect, which can happen with a forceful tackle in sport.

There is no structural damage done to the brain with concussion, rather the shaking of the brain disrupts the nerves and the way they conduct signals. This disruption is only temporary, but as the body corrects the changes to the brain nerves, the brain just can’t function properly. This is why people describe headaches, blurry vision, brain fog, balance issues and just not feeling right.

There is a common misconception that with a concussion, the brain will be inflamed, bruised or swollen. This type of brain damage does definitely occur, but is considered a traumatic brain injury. People will have severe symptoms like repeated vomiting, seizures, severe headache, deformity of the skull and they need to immediately get to a hospital emergency department.