There are those who say that you shouldn’t go to sleep after a head injury, even if you just had a concussion. They will say that you need to stay awake because sleeping can be dangerous. They may even claim that going to sleep can make your head injury worse.
But is this true? Not necessarily. Modern research by medical professionals has shown that sleep can be beneficial after a concussion, and it’s unnecessary to keep someone awake for an extended period of time. If they want to get some rest, they should be allowed to do so.
So what is the issue?
Essentially, the problem is that a sleeping person isn’t going to have their symptoms monitored by anyone else. No one will know if those symptoms are getting worse while the person is sleeping.
For instance, maybe someone thinks they have a concussion, but they actually have bleeding around the brain. This could be a condition known as a subdural hematoma. If they go to sleep and the bleeding continues, pressure builds on the brain and the injury can grow much worse. The person could end up comatose or even pass away.
But the key is not to keep someone awake. It’s to monitor their symptoms. When children suffer head injuries, for example, parents are often advised just to wake them up a few times during the night. If the symptoms are getting worse, then the parents can seek additional medical attention. But if the symptoms stay the same or improve, then it’s clear that the sleep is helping.
Compensation for head injuries
With any type of head injury or traumatic brain injury, the cost of medical care can be significant. Some injured individuals also have to consider things like lost wages or future care, depending on the extent of the injury. It’s important to consider all options to seek compensation from the appropriate parties.