Published on: 6/26/2025
Is it safe to fall asleep after sustaining a concussion?
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury and it can range from mild to severe. If you or someone you know may have a concussion, it is important to seek medical care -- and it is especially important to seek medical care immediately if there are any signs of a severe concussion such as vomiting, seizure, inability to wake up, and trouble speaking or moving any limbs. After a healthcare provider determines it is safe to recover from a concussion at home (not in the hospital), getting enough sleep is part of how someone recovers from a concussion.
Explanation
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury and it can range from mild to severe. If you or someone you know may have a concussion, it is important to seek medical care -- and it is especially important to seek medical care immediately in a hospital if there are any of the following symptoms:
Some Reasons To Seek Urgent Medical Care For Someone With A Concussion:
- Any symptoms that are worsening, such as headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion that is not improving
- Loss of consciousness
- Unable to wake up
- Seizure
- Leg or arm weakness or numbness
- Difficulty making eye contact, walking, or speaking
After a healthcare provider determines it is safe to recover from a concussion at home (rather than in the hospital), getting enough sleep is part of how someone recovers from a concussion. It is still important to monitor symptoms at home, in case any symptoms or behaviors worsen. A healthcare provider can provide personalized medical recommendations about how to best recover from a concussion. Also, more information about concussions is available at https://familydoctor.org/condition/concussion/.
(References)
- Hoffman NL, O'Connor PJ, Schmidt MD, Lynall RC, & Schmidt JD. (2020). Relationships between Post-Concussion Sleep and .... Journal of neurotrauma, 31774024.
- Lavigne G, Khoury S, Chauny JM, & Desautels A. (2015). Pain and sleep in post-concussion/mild traumatic brain injury. Pain, 25789439.
- Donahue CC, & Resch JE. (2024). Concussion and the Sleeping Brain. Sports medicine - open, 38853235.
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