A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) resulting from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull. This sudden, forceful movement temporarily disrupts the brain’s normal function. Difficulty breathing, or respiratory distress, is typically not an expected symptom of a simple, uncomplicated concussion. However, the effects of a concussion can last for days, weeks, or longer. Any notable change in breathing pattern or difficulty breathing following a head impact is a serious warning sign that warrants immediate emergency medical attention.
Common Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
A concussion involves symptoms that reflect a temporary disturbance in brain function. These symptoms often fall into cognitive, physical, and emotional categories, helping medical professionals diagnose the injury. Cognitive symptoms frequently include confusion, a feeling of being in a fog, or difficulty concentrating on a task. A person might also experience memory problems, such as forgetting the events immediately before or after the injury.
Physical symptoms of a concussion include a headache, which is common. Other physical symptoms are dizziness, loss of balance, or a feeling of being lightheaded. An individual might also experience nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, along with general fatigue and drowsiness.
The injury can also affect mood and sleep patterns, leading to emotional changes. These changes may present as increased irritability, anxiety, or feeling more emotional than usual. Sleep disturbances are also reported, which can involve changes in sleep duration or difficulty falling asleep.
Respiratory Distress and Neurological Function
Automatic breathing is a finely tuned involuntary process controlled by a specific region of the central nervous system. The brainstem, located at the base of the brain, contains the respiratory centers (medulla oblongata and pons). These centers continuously monitor carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the blood, adjusting the rate and depth of breathing accordingly to maintain homeostasis.
A mild traumatic brain injury primarily affects the cerebrum, which is responsible for higher-level functions, leaving the brainstem largely intact. For this reason, a simple concussion is unlikely to cause an immediate, life-threatening disruption of the automatic respiratory rhythm. When difficulty breathing does occur following a head injury, it often indicates a more severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) where the brainstem itself has been physically compromised or is under severe pressure from swelling or bleeding.
However, concussions can still lead to less severe, non-life-threatening breathing irregularities through a different mechanism. The injury can functionally disrupt the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls involuntary functions like heart rate and breathing. This disruption, sometimes called dysautonomia, can cause the brain to incorrectly react to normal levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen. The result may be a pattern of shallow or unstable respiration, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue, especially during physical exertion.
A person who sustains a head injury may also experience anxiety or panic attacks, which can mimic respiratory distress. This secondary psychological response can cause hyperventilation, a pattern of rapid, shallow breathing that leads to a feeling of not getting enough air. While the physical difficulty in breathing is real, the root cause in this scenario is the psychological impact or autonomic dysregulation, not direct failure of the brain’s respiratory center.
Immediate Emergency Indicators Following Head Trauma
While a simple concussion presents with the symptoms listed above, certain signs after a head impact signal a severe, life-threatening injury that requires immediate emergency care. Any noticeable change in the normal breathing pattern must be treated as a medical emergency, as it can indicate significant brain compression or injury. This includes slow, shallow, or irregular breaths, or the presence of agonal breathing (gasping or snorting noises).
Other indicators of severe trauma, such as intracranial hemorrhage or brain swelling, demand urgent medical attention. Seek immediate medical help if the person experiences:
- A headache that steadily worsens and does not go away.
- Persistent or repeated vomiting, indicating increased pressure within the skull.
- A seizure or convulsion following the head injury.
- Loss of consciousness lasting more than 30 seconds, or an inability to wake up from sleep.
- Clear fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears, which may signal a skull fracture.
- Unequal pupil size, where one pupil is larger than the other.