After a few days though, it is important to maintain as normal a routine as possible. This means going to bed and waking up about the same time every day though they may need more sleep than normal. Staying in a routine, especially with sleep, is very beneficial to the healing process. Often students report difficulty falling or staying asleep a week or so after their injury.
If this happens, talk with your provider, who may recommend supplements or medications to help keep the sleep cycle normal. Good sleep hygiene is imperative during this time as well. These things include, staying off of electronics 30 min-1 hr before bed, sleeping in a cool, dark room, and some people may benefit from listening white noise or a fan. But if someone is not confused or vomiting, or has double vision or trouble walking or a severe head or neck ache, these recommendations do not include the advice to keep them awake.
So athletes have to stop training for a time, but should also stop taxing their brains. Children should do less school work, for example, until they have fully recovered. The brain needs to heal by not doing so much and so sleep is perfect for it. This is the current advice. Although it should be said, that until very recently, very few trials have tested the advice that is given, something that worries some researchers.
The good news is that several news trials have been registered and are underway, so we should soon have more information on the best way to treat concussion and to care for people after a head injury. Part of the confusion here, surrounds the term concussion. Children may be especially sensitive to sleep problems after a concussion, as their brains are still developing. After a concussion, some people develop sleep disorders such as insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and sleep apnea.
It is common for people with a concussion to have the feeling that they are half-awake all night , or to toss and turn due to headaches or chronic pain. Though symptoms change over time, insomnia may last for more than a year after your concussion, especially if you do not give yourself a chance to heal before returning to work or school.
Being unable to sleep deeply may interfere with recovery. Addressing sleep problems during concussion recovery is very important, because sleep is a crucial part of the recovery process. Research indicates that those who wake up more during the night experience concussion symptoms for longer. People who have trouble sleeping due to multiple concussions are also more likely to experience strong headaches and problems with mood and thinking.
One study of concussions in children under 18 found that those who slept poorly had more severe symptoms and took more than two additional weeks to recover, compared to those who slept well.
Concussion symptoms vary, and you can have a concussion even if you do not lose consciousness. Common symptoms of a concussion include:.
These symptoms might not show up right away. If you suspect you might have a concussion, it is very important to seek medical help, rest, and avoid activities that could cause another concussion before you are healed. People with more serious symptoms, such as seizures, vomiting, trouble staying conscious, a severe headache, an unusually aggressive attitude, or tingling sensations or weakness in the limbs, should visit the emergency room. Adopting smart sleep hygiene practices can pave the way for better sleep when recovering from a concussion.
Sleep hygiene tips include:. Frequent napping may be appropriate in the weeks immediately following a concussion, as long as it does not interfere with nighttime sleep. Talk to your doctor about balancing sleep with a gradual return to activities after resting for three to five days after a concussion. As you start to feel better, light exercise , such as walking, may improve your sleep and mood.
If you have concussion symptoms after experiencing an injury, see a doctor as soon as possible. Seeking medical attention is especially important if you develop a stiff neck, problems with consciousness, a worsening headache that will not go away, repeated vomiting, problems with speech or movement, weakness, confusion, seizures, double vision, unusual behavior, or fluids leaking from the ears or nose.
You should also talk to your doctor if your symptoms get worse, or if you do not feel completely recovered after a week following the concussion. Most people see a major improvement in symptoms within ten days to a month, though it is not uncommon to have lingering symptoms that last for months. Depending on your sleep symptoms, your healthcare provider may ask you to fill out a sleep questionnaire, undergo a test, or keep a sleep diary.
It is best to visit your doctor on an ongoing basis so they can monitor any differences in your sleep patterns and help you manage your sleep problems based on your individual case. For long-term issues or problems that suggest a sleep disorder, your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist.
A sleep specialist can conduct more sophisticated tests and work with you to develop a treatment plan. Usually, they follow recommended treatment guidelines for any sleep disorder you may have. Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia.
Rehman, M. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies.
It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity.
Updated July 29, How to sleep with a concussion. Heads up: Danger signs. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes.
Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is a Concussion? Sleep-Related Symptoms. Tips for Getting Rest After a Concussion. When to See a Doctor. Frequently Asked Questions.
Serious Effects of Mild Concussions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
0コメント