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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is It Safe To Go To Sleep After A Concussion On Head?

hi, my husband just brought home his brother from a late bar. He thinks someone is after hitting him on the back of the head with a full bottle and appears to be concussed. He is after a good bit of alcohol...wat should we do as he wants to go to sleep?
Thu, 21 Jan 2016
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Neurologist, Surgical,  's  Response
Hello. Thanks for asking from HCM.


I can understand your concern. Head injury in an alcohol intoxicated patient should never be taken lightly. It is because symptoms of dangerous head injury may be masked or sometimes injury features could be confused with alcohol symptoms. It leads to ignorance and wrong treatment.

Now coming to his injury, you should observe him for

: vomiting
: bleed through nose/ear/throat
: loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes or decreasing consciousness
: altered behaviour
: fits
: onset of new focal deficit
: while sleeping, if he is not waking up easily

If you find any of above sign, you must consult ER as soon as possible. The doctor might advise CT head to rule out fracture or brain bleed. Brain bleed might need surgical evacuation.

If no above sign and he is conscious, oriented, talking and answering rightly to your questions, it means he might be having mild head injury. You can allow him sleep but keep an eye on him. Check him by waking him after an hour and see if he wakes up and responds. It means he is ok. If there is problem, you should consult doctor for dangerous head injury.

Meanwhile at home, you can
: apply icepacks at injury site.
: avoid pressure at injury site
: keep his head at higher level than chest
: turn his head to side in case of vomiting

Thanks. Hope it will help you. Take care.
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Is It Safe To Go To Sleep After A Concussion On Head?

Hello. Thanks for asking from HCM. I can understand your concern. Head injury in an alcohol intoxicated patient should never be taken lightly. It is because symptoms of dangerous head injury may be masked or sometimes injury features could be confused with alcohol symptoms. It leads to ignorance and wrong treatment. Now coming to his injury, you should observe him for : vomiting : bleed through nose/ear/throat : loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes or decreasing consciousness : altered behaviour : fits : onset of new focal deficit : while sleeping, if he is not waking up easily If you find any of above sign, you must consult ER as soon as possible. The doctor might advise CT head to rule out fracture or brain bleed. Brain bleed might need surgical evacuation. If no above sign and he is conscious, oriented, talking and answering rightly to your questions, it means he might be having mild head injury. You can allow him sleep but keep an eye on him. Check him by waking him after an hour and see if he wakes up and responds. It means he is ok. If there is problem, you should consult doctor for dangerous head injury. Meanwhile at home, you can : apply icepacks at injury site. : avoid pressure at injury site : keep his head at higher level than chest : turn his head to side in case of vomiting Thanks. Hope it will help you. Take care.