LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS INDICATE POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME

DEAR DOCTORS: I was in a pretty bad car accident. I thought I was lucky I got away with just a concussion, but now I have headaches and see an aura when I look at lights at night. I'm told it may be post-concussion syndrome. Can you please talk about what that is and whether it can be cured?

- ■DR EVE GLAZIER & DR ELIZABETH KO

DEAR READER: We should begin by talking about concussion, a form of traumatic brain injury. It occurs when a blow to the head or body results in a jolt so strong, it causes the brain to shift or twist rapidly within the skull. The force of this movement can bruise the delicate tissues of the brain, rupture blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients, and can cause damage to the neurons, sometimes at a cellular level.

Because these types of brain injuries are usually not life-threatening, concussions have been characterised as mild. However, in recent years, the serious consequences have become clearer.