Daily HealthBeat Tip - August 31, 2007

Heads up

From the  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

It’s tempting to just shake off a head injury and walk away. That’s the thing about concussion – you can’t see inside your own skull, where the damage might be. That job takes a professional, with expertise and imaging equipment.

To help make the job go better, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a package of information, called Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice. 

Dr. Jean Langlois, one of the authors, says the toolkit is designed for physicians but tells patients things they should know, too.

``Rest is key for recovery from a concussion, but it’s more than that. Patients shouldn’t participate in any high-risk activities – these include things like sports, riding a bike – if any symptoms remain.’’ (12 seconds)

Similarly, be aware that a concussion can affect your ability to think or concentrate.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: August, 31 2007