Mayo Clinic Talks Concussions: What Every Primary Care Provider Should Know
Jan 27, 2026
Matthew B. Anastasi, a family and sports medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Arizona, explains concussion basics and who to worry about. He covers how to recognize symptoms, red flags that need imaging, early management and stepwise return to activity. Special considerations for children, older adults, repeat injuries and prevention are highlighted.
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Concussion Defined Without Loss Of Consciousness
- A concussion is a traumatically induced disturbance of brain function, essentially a microscopic bruise to the brain.
- Loss of consciousness is not required to diagnose a concussion.
Ask About An Event And Track Symptoms
- Ask about a sentinel event (fall, collision, crash) and screen for varied symptoms like headache, photophobia, nausea, sleep changes, and irritability.
- Use a symptom checklist and serial tracking to monitor recovery day-to-day.
Send Patients With Red Flags To ED
- Urgently evaluate and image if there are ongoing declines in function or focal exam findings (pupillary changes, cranial nerve deficits) or 'worst headache of life'.
- Loss of consciousness alone doesn't mandate CT, but combined red flags do.