Did you know that single-vehicle crashes make up more than half of the fatalities in road accidents? With so many hazards on the road, knowing more about what injuries you may sustain is critical. What’s the difference between whiplash vs concussion, and how do you know which you’re suffering from?
If you’re worried about your car accident injury, we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about whiplash, concussions, and more.
Whiplash
How common is whiplash? Studies show more than 2 million cases of whiplash per year. Whiplash is a common car accident injury, but there are many other ways to obtain this injury.
Causes
The primary cause of whiplash is a sudden movement of the neck. In car accidents, this injury occurs when your head whips forward and backward on impact.
Severe movement such as a fall on your neck can also cause this injury. High-impact sports such as gymnastics, boxing, or football also can cause whiplash. One misconception is that whiplash requires high force, while a crash as low as 5mph has been known to cause the problem.
Symptoms
Whiplash can cause severe pain in the neck, shoulders, and torso. The pain is severe enough that some sufferers mix the injury up with broken sternum symptoms. Headaches, migraines, and restlessness are also common.
Treatments
Most cases of whiplash get better over time. Over-the-counter pain medications and muscle relaxers are common prescriptions or treatments.
Resting with a hot-cold compress will also help soothe the muscles. In severe cases, physical therapy can help.
Concussion
Concussions are exceptionally common as well, especially in car accidents. Concussions are head-centric injuries that occur in our heads, brains, and skulls.
A concussion is often defined as a temporary unconsciousness or confusion caused by a blow to the head. However, there are more symptoms than these two complications.
Causes
Concussions are solely caused by strikes to the head. As far as car accident injuries go, the most common way to become concussed is for your head to bounce off the interior of your car during a crash.
Symptoms
Concussions can cause dizziness, severe migraines, and blurred vision. Restlessness and irritation are also common. In severe cases, memory loss, lack of coordination, and excessive fatigue can occur.
Treatments
As with whiplash, concussions cannot get better swiftly. A concussion will heal over time naturally, but should always be checked out by a medical professional. Repeated concussions can cause severe consequences.
Avoid stimulation such as loud sounds or bright lights. Limiting any activities that require concentration is also suggested.
Conversely, lying in a dark room alone won’t always help either. While stimuli worsen the symptoms, a complete lack of stimuli won’t remove all symptoms.
Whiplash vs Concussion Treatment
Though many people find themselves confused with whiplash vs concussion, the two injuries are drastically different. Whiplash is a neck injury, while concussions are a head injury. The treatment for both is to avoid strain and manage your pain.
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