can concussions kill you?

Question

my friend says if you fall asleep while having a concussion you'll die. is this true?

Answer 1

No, that's not true.

You should stay awake long enough for doctors and others to determine if you are functioning properly. This can be done somewhat by observing how your eyes focus or adjust to stimuli such as movement or light. Other things would be to observe how you move, maintain your balance, etc.

However, unlike what some idiots might suggest, NO ONE expects anyone to stay awake for 24 hours!!! It's hard enough to stay awake for 24 hours when you aren't injured -- trying to do so when you are injured may actually cause more trauma. Your body needs to sleep in order to heal itself most effectively.

When you are finally allowed to sleep, someone should check on you every few hours to make sure you are not having internal bleeding, that you are not slipping into a coma, etc.

A concussion is a brain bruise, so it does not go away overnight. It can be with you for days -- just like any other bruise. And obviously you can't stay away for days until the "bruise" goes away!!

Answer 2

While it is always important to keep someone awake after a concussion, it doesn't mean you will die. Yes, concussions can kill you if they are severe enough. The blow to the brain can cause swelling and bruising of the brain tissue. Cerebral hemorrhaging and the formation of clots can be a very serious side affect of a concussion which is bruising of the brain. The depth is also important. A coma can result if it is serious enough resulting in severe brain damage. Always get a concussion checked out at the ER. Many times a person forgets what happens prior to a concussion and can't remember. An xray is in order to rule out skull fractures. Any strange behavior that lingers , a person should see a neurologist for further studies. Multiples concussions will get worse with each time you get one. It is wise to have someone who is suspected or diagnosed with a concussion to try to wake the person if the lose consciousness.

Answer 3

The ramifications of concussions can be death. Many times if a person lives alone
and falls and hurts their head, and later goes to sleep,... they have been known NOT to
wake up, The resulting brain hemorrhage can cause death. When they are old people
it lools like death due to "natural causes",.. unless the head is examined for bruising.
The swelling and bleeding can mean the end of life.
Something we learned as children in Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts.

Answer 4

A series of concussions, can cause irreversible brain damage.

Doctors sometimes tell a person not to sleep for more than 2 hours. then have some one wake them to see if they are all right, but that seems to be changing.

Answer 5

you can fall into a coma which could lead to death. Usually when someone is in a coma over 3 months they have a slim to none chance of surviving. At least to the point were they can function properly.

Answer 6

If you fall asleep, it could be a sign of shock, or it could signal that bleeding is going on inside your skull and putting pressure on your brain. Either way, if you have a person who is not waking when you shake them, 911.

TX Mom
not a dr.

Answer 7

no, they keep you awake to determine if you have an altered mental status from the concussion. if you do, then you might have a bleed (or a clot) and you could need medicine for that.

Answer 8

well...concussions by their very nature, are not fatal.
concussions are basically a 'bruise' of the brain. Anything more serious might be considered such as hemmorage or other intra-cranial pressure.

Answer 9

You could slipinto a coma,absolutely, you should stay awake for at least 24 hours after trama to the head.

Answer 10

You might die from shock, internal bleeding, orasphyxiation(choking on your vomit or tongue). So I would say false, because your friend says that you WILL die, but you only MIGHT die.