A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury resulting from a jolt or blow to the head or body, causing the brain to move or twist inside the skull. This sudden movement can stretch and damage brain cells, leading to temporary changes in brain function. Following such an injury, many individuals and their caregivers often express concern about whether it is safe to sleep. Understanding current medical advice regarding sleep and concussion recovery is an important step in supporting healing.
Sleeping Right After a Concussion
A long-standing myth suggested that individuals should not sleep after a concussion, missing signs of a more severe injury. However, current medical consensus has largely debunked this belief. It is now considered safe and often beneficial to sleep after a concussion, provided there are no serious “red flag” symptoms indicating a more severe injury.
The previous concern about missing signs of deterioration while someone slept was valid before advancements in medical monitoring and understanding. Rest, including sleep, is now recognized as an important component of the brain’s healing process. Denying sleep can be counterproductive to recovery. If a person is conscious, able to hold a conversation, and displays no severe symptoms, allowing them to sleep is appropriate.
How Sleep Aids Brain Healing
Sleep is a dynamic process where the brain repairs and restores itself. Following a concussion, the brain needs this restorative time to recover. Deep sleep, in particular, facilitates cellular repair and growth by releasing growth hormones that help mend damaged brain tissue.
The brain also utilizes sleep to clear metabolic waste products that accumulate during the day and especially after an injury. This waste removal primarily occurs through the glymphatic system, which flushes out toxins and debris during sleep. Additionally, sleep helps consolidate memories and regulate emotions, which are often affected by a concussion.
Strategies for Better Sleep
Consistent sleep habits can support recovery after a concussion. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and waking at the same time daily, helps regulate the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
To promote better sleep:
- Create an optimal sleep environment: The bedroom should be dark, quiet, and cool, between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Avoid stimulating activities before bedtime, such as electronic screens or television, as they interfere with sleep.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol intake before sleep, as these substances can disrupt sleep patterns.
- Engage in light physical activity during the day, if medically cleared.
- Avoid strenuous exercise close to bedtime.
When to Consult a Doctor
While sleep is beneficial for concussion recovery, certain “red flag” symptoms require immediate medical evaluation. These signs may indicate a more serious injury, such as bleeding in or around the brain.
Seek emergency care for:
- A worsening headache that does not go away
- Repeated vomiting
- Increasing confusion
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- New weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
- Difficulty waking up
- Unusual drowsiness
- Changes in pupil size
If any of these symptoms appear following a head injury, individuals should be woken up and taken for medical evaluation.