What's in a Knock Out? [First Aid for Fighters]

Doc Dill:

I can't find any definitive evidence on what a knockout is and what happens when you do get knocked out. The best I can do is:

1. You get hit in the head, your head goes in one direction, but your brain stays mostly in the same place.

2. The cerebrospinal fluid can't keep a buffer between your brain and your skull, so your brain goes "boink."

3. When your neck muscles kick in and try to stabilize your head and/or your neck goes to the end or the range of motion, the brain goes in the opposite direction, bouncing off the other side of your skull.

3.5 This may be repeated a couple of times until your head comes to rest.

4. ??? A large number of neurons fire simultaneously and overload your senses and/or arteries that supply blood to your brain are cut off and/or something else entirely ???

5. You fall down.

That sound about right, or does an actual explanation exist somewhere?'

What's going on?

Thanks,"

by Doc Dill

It's called a concussion. 2 types. coup and contra coup. Coup is a brain injury on the same side of the head as the blow received. contra coup is on the opposite side.

A knockout is simply a "bruise on the brain." You can suffer a concussion even if you never lose consciousness.

You get hit and your brain can get bruised. doesn't matter which side. you will have symptoms. Headache, dizziness, nausea and/or vomiting, difficulty walking,seeing,hearing, memory loss and /or confusion. The longer they last doesn't mean the worse it is. Unconsciousness is bad, especially if it occurs after the initial "knockout." Vomiting is bad. Bleeding from the ears is really bad.

The effects of concussion are cumulative. That is, the more "knockouts" one suffers the more likely permanent symptoms will occur and these are not good. memory loss, psychiatric disease and personality changes are quite common due to brain injury. This is because your brain doesn't heal and restore function like other body parts. Areas of brain lost are permanently gone.

Prevention is key. Get better defense!! If you are rocked or knocked out take time off from getting hit. If you are on medication that prolongs bleeding time, like coumadin or frankly even aspirin or ibuprofen, you are at risk for an inter cranial hemorrhage which is far worse than a concussion. Above all if you lose consciousness vomit, bleed from the ears or have a headache that lasts, you should see a doctor and get a proper workup.

If you are one of those guys who thinks "it's no big deal i get dropped all the time and i am still ok," maybe you should try tennis.

In case you missed it earlier, Doc Dill isn't actually a doctor. Take his advice for what it's worth, but consider talking to someone with the appropriate credentials.