What makes you knocked out

It depends on the severity of the injury. If you lose consciousness briefly, and suffer a concussion, 75 to 90 percent of people will fully recover in a few months. But severe damage to the brain can cause unconsciousness for days, weeks, or even longer.

If there is internal bleeding or swelling in the brain, surgery may be necessary to relieve pressure on the brain. Severe injuries can also cause lasting effects that vary — including memory loss, paralysis , seizures, and lasting behavioral or cognitive changes — depending on the areas of the brain affected.

But in those cases, unconsciousness is a symptom of the injury, not a cause of long term deficits. If the loss of consciousness is very brief — less than a minute — and the other symptoms of a concussion disappear quickly, a visit to a primary care doctor would be sufficient to make sure there is no danger. Doctors will check to make sure there is no internal bleeding or bruising that can be dangerous. But that is not correct — these are serious injuries that need to be addressed by a doctor or trained professional in order to prevent lasting damage.

For athletes, young and old, the risks of a head injury can be mitigated by a lot of factors, including knowledgeable coaches, enforcement of rules meant to limit the risk to players, and even just making sure equipment is in good shape and fits properly.

Those precautions can prevent a lot of harm, and risks should be balanced with the benefits of any sport or physical activity. Michael W. Richardson Michael W.

Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment. Every month, we choose one reader question and get an answer from a top neuroscientist. Always been curious about something? Disclaimer: BrainFacts. It is not intended to give specific medical or other advice to patients. Visitors interested in medical advice should consult with a physician.

Ask a neuroscientist your questions about the brain. Submit a Question. Engage local scientists to educate your community about the brain. Do you believe any of these common neuromyths? Test your knowledge. Read More. For Educators Log in. Ask an Expert. About the Author.

Submit Your Question. Join the ZME newsletter for amazing science news, features, and exclusive scoops. More than 40, subscribers can't be wrong. It can take anywhere from a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes before a person can regain consciousnes s — it all depends on the severity of the blow. Some people can shake it off and are only left with a headache. Others that are l ess fortunate can incur serious medical problems from the concussion, like cerebral bleeding and even death.

The blow from a KO-quality punch often leaves its victims with memory problems, mood changes, confusion, and a slower information processing speed. Chronic damage such as personality changes and dementia are some of the risks football athletes or boxers face. Rather, targeting is far more important.

Someone could get hurt pretty bad if hit at the top of the head but may not fall unconscious. The same blow to the chin or side of the jaw area is a different matter. Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space.

In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. February 22, Reading Time: 4 mins read. Credit: Pixabay J ab, jab, right hook.