Every year, people all across the U.S. experience a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) called a concussion. Inevitably, at least some of those people have drinking problems serious enough to require alcohol addiction treatment. Concussions can trigger a range of significant symptoms. What happens if you drink while you’re experiencing these symptoms? As it turns out, there are some important reasons for avoiding this practice in all circumstances. That’s true whether or not you’re affected by addiction.
Concussion Facts
Concussions are TBIs that occur when your brain shakes violently or impacts the inside of your skull. They can happen when your head strikes some kind of surface or object. They can also happen when a surface or object strikes your head. In addition, blows to your head or body can create enough force to shake your brain back and forth.
Compared to other kinds of brain injuries, concussions are classified as relatively minor. However, they can still cause you serious harm. Specific issues you may experience include:
- Headaches and confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Short-term amnesia
- Unusual sadness, anxiousness, or irritability
- Problems thinking clearly or concentrating
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of your normal body balance
- Unusual sensitivity to light or sound
- A general feeling of fogginess
In addition, some people experience severe effects that require immediate medical attention.
In America, millions of people develop concussion symptoms each year. The most common sources of these symptoms include accidents and involvement in contact sports. They also include fights and other kinds of physical assaults.
Can You Drink if You Have a Concussion – The Impact on Healing
It takes time to recover from a concussion. The exact length of recovery varies from person to person. Depending on your situation, you may need anywhere from a few days to a month or more. For adults, the average recovery time can increase with age.
When answering the question, can you drink if you have a concussion, healing is a major factor. Essentially, every time you drink, you can delay the natural healing process. What’s more, you can increase your risk for a second injury that further damages your brain. For these reasons, public health experts urge you to avoid all alcohol use until your concussion symptoms disappear.
Alcohol and Concussion – Other Risks to Your Health
The combination of alcohol and concussion can also put your health at risk in other ways. Specifically, drinking can worsen your existing concussion symptoms. The list of possible effects on you includes things such as:
- An increase in sadness, irritability, or other negative emotions
- Greater disruption of your memory, ability to concentrate, and other mental functions
- Higher levels of fatigue
- Increased difficulty balancing your body or coordinating your movements
- Greater difficulty speaking clearly
The differences in people who drink while concussed are not small. Compared to people who don’t drink in this situation, you may have a much harder time recovering. And during your recovery, you may find it much harder to function than you otherwise would.
Can You Drink if You Have a Concussion – Skywood Recovery Has the Answers
There is a clear risk of drinking while you have a concussion. Talk to the helpful and knowledgeable staff at Skywood Recovery for more information. We can also fill you in on the dangers of excessive alcohol use in any other situation.
Whether or not they’re affected by concussions, people with serious drinking problems need help. Is this the case for you or your loved one? Skywood provides a full range of essential services, including alcohol detox and both inpatient and outpatient treatment. To get the recovery process started, just call us today at 269.280.4673. You can also contact us online.