Why We Should Take a Bump On The Head Seriously

While we often take for granted minor head injuries sustained from accidents or sports, it’s best to go through the so-called “concussion protocol” when they happen. More than a simple bump on the head is a bruise, then possible nausea, blurred vision, headache, and dizziness.

Image source: intermountainhealthcare.org

In any case, we shouldn’t wait for more complications to appear whenever we receive a hit or blow to the head. Even if the pain goes away within minutes, we should monitor the situation within 24 hours. This is especially true when the head injury is incurred by children. If the symptoms above don’t go away or become chronic, the recourse is to go to the hospital’s emergency minor injuries unit for a check-up.

Also, we might be too dismissive of the injury to notice that it’s already a serious one. Tell-tale signs of serious head injuries requiring immediate medical attention are difficulty in staying awake or being sleepy hours after, bruising and bleeding from one or both ears, sudden problems with reading and writing, poor vision, and slurred speech. In short, we don’t need to see blood or a person outright falling unconscious to know that a head injury is serious.

Image source: youtube.com

Even if everything seems to be fine after bumping your head, you’ve to make sure that there’s no concussion. It’s still advisable to have someone watch over you or be within easy reach via phone or chat for the first 48 hours. Also, do not take sleeping pills, drink alcohol, nor drive a car. In general, avoid any stressful situations for at least a day.

Dr. Curtis Cripe is the head of research and development at the NTL Group. He has published two peer-reviewed papers and wrote two book chapters on neurotherapy and neuroengineering. Drop by this website to know more about Dr. Cripe’s work and interests.

The Differences Between Short- And Long-Term Memory

The brain takes in and processes a plethora of thoughts and experiences every day, some of which only get stored for a few seconds or minutes, others assimilated for days, while some get etched in the brain for years or even entire lifetime. It is one’s capacity to recall these thoughts that is the basis for memory.

Image source: unforgettable.org

Memory is, therefore, either short- or long-term. Remembering, for example, who called you up before you went to bed, or what you ate this morning before work, constitutes short-term memory. Experts sometimes call it active or primary memory. In general, short-term memories remain for a span of 30 seconds to several days.

Most short-term types will be eventually forgotten to make way for new ones unless one consciously takes the effort to recall them. When this is done, such memories get stored in the brain’s frontal lobe, the area that allows for long-term memories.

Long-term memory, therefore, refers to facts, experiences, and evens that happened weeks, months, or years back. The conscious decision or need to remember is often the reason for these memories, like recalling one’s Social Security number or ATM password, or when one wants to retain what they have studied for a test.

Image source: kisspng.com

However, sometimes what one may not intend to remember still gets stored as long-term memory. This is because an event has a very strong link to one’s sensory experience or a particular emotion, like the passing of a loved one or a first visit to another country.

Dr. Curtis Cripe’s professional career and academic background span a diverse range of disciplines, including aerospace engineering, software development, bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, psychology, and child neurodevelopment. For more on his work, visit this page.