What caused the loss of memory?
A concussion is an injury to the head that causes momentary or prolonged (1 to 10 minutes) loss of consciousness. It is usually caused by a direct blow or a fall. In lay terms, a concussion is like a temporary short circuit of the brain, which accounts for the memory loss. The worse the concussion, the greater is the memory loss. In serious cases there may be bleeding, or hemorrhage, inside the brain. The buildup of pressure from this bleeding may occur quickly, or it may develop slowly over a period of 24 to 36 hours. Either way it is very serious. A concussion should be evaluated as soon as possible in the emergency room or by a physician. If a neck injury is suspected, use the guidelines on page 146 for protecting the spine. The possibility of internal bleeding is the reason many persons with a concussion are hospitalized overnight for observation. The only clue to bleeding in the brain may be a slowly deteriorating level of consciousness. Sometimes specialized X rays are taken to d
