Myth: You should keep a person with a concussion awake
Concussions have been in the news a lot lately due to the recognition that they are a problem in sports, even at the school level. (Here are concussion myths every parent must know.) But one outdated piece of advice that could actually hinder a person's recovery is that they shouldn't go to sleep. "Sleep is extremely important when recovering from concussion," says Andrea Almeida, MD, a sports neurologist and co-director of Michigan NeuroSport. "In the first four to six hours after a concussive injury, it's important to monitor the individual, looking for any signs of mental status changes or deterioration, significant worsening of symptoms, or new focal neurologic findings." These signs may indicate bleeding in the brain. But, "after this, if the individual remains stable and does not demonstrate any concerning signs, then sleep is recommended to aid recovery," Dr. Almeida says.
