Princess Anne has been hospitalized with a minor head injury and a concussion, Buckingham Palace announced today.
The king’s sister, 73, was walking around her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire yesterday when she was injured.
The Olympic medal-winning horsewoman received medical attention before being transferred to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for tests, treatment and observation.
The palace said the Princess Royal suffered minor head injuries, believed to be consistent with a possible impact from the head or legs of a horse.
Concussion is a common injury, but experts warn that despite its potential severity, it can often be ignored.
The king’s sister, 73, was walking around her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire yesterday when she was injured. The Olympic medal-winning horsewoman received medical attention before being transferred to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for tests, treatment and observation. Pictured, Princess Anne arrives by carriage on day three of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse last Thursday.
The palace said the Princess Royal suffered minor head injuries, believed to be consistent with a possible impact from the head or legs of a horse. In the photo, the Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire where the incident occurred (file image)
However, if not treated properly, it can leave a much longer lasting impact.
Here MailOnline explains everything you need to know about the condition and its crucial warning signs.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in a temporary loss of normal brain function.
The brain, which has the consistency of firm jelly, hits the hard sides of the skull and the impact can even cause bleeding.
There may be no visible head injury or obvious damage to the brain; Concussion can occur without detectable structural changes on MRI or CT scans. This makes it a complex injury to diagnose and treat.
It can be caused by direct trauma to the head, such as a fall, blow, sports injury, or accident.
They may also occur as a result of rapid acceleration-deceleration of the head, such as in whiplash injuries or blast injuries.
What are the key warning signs?
Mild head injuries can leave people with a variety of concussion symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, nausea, confusion, or inability to process or retain information.
Other common signs include sensitivity to light and not being able to sleep well.
About one in ten cases also involves loss of consciousness, says brain injury charity Headways.
Experts have long advised against relying solely on this as an indicator of concussion.
According to the NHS, vision disorders, such as “seeing stars” or blurred vision or a delay in answering questions immediately after the head injury, are common signs.
Symptoms may also not occur until 48 hours after the incident.
When should I seek medical advice?
After suffering a concussion, it is important to be accompanied by a responsible adult, if possible.
While unlikely, there is a small risk of developing complications.
The health service urges people to go to A&E if they have lost consciousness after the incident or have suffered memory loss, even if it is brief.
Persistent headaches, behavioral changes such as irritability, being easily distracted, or having no interest in the outside world are other indicators that you should go to the hospital.
Additional key warning signs include loss of balance or trouble walking, vomiting after the injury, sudden deafness in one or both ears, and clear fluid coming from the nose or ears.
It could be the cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain.
In rare cases, a dangerous collection of blood, medically known as a hematoma, can form in the brain after a blow, bump or jolt to the head that can press the brain against the skull.
Danger signs include one pupil being larger than the other. drowsiness or inability to wake up and repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures.
A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in a temporary loss of normal brain function. The brain, which has the consistency of firm jelly, hits the hard sides of the skull and the impact can even cause bleeding.
How long do the symptoms last?
In many cases, the symptoms go away on their own within a few days or weeks.
However, problems can persist for some people for months before resolving on their own.
A Canadian study, published in BMJ Open Sports and exercise medicinefound that 80 to 90 percent of concussions are short-lived and all symptoms disappear within 28 days.
However, in some cases, recovery can take months, especially if the recovery has been ignored or rushed.
Research last year by the University of Cambridge found that almost half of people (45 percent) with a concussion still show symptoms of brain injury six months later.
Using 108 patients who suffered a mild traumatic brain injury, the scientists compared their MRI scans, looked at how different areas of the brain coordinate with each other, and compared them with scans from 76 healthy volunteers.
writing in the diary BrainThe team also said the most common symptoms six months later were fatigue, poor concentration and headaches.
How is a concussion treated?
While there is no single treatment for concussion, with proper medical care and plenty of rest, most people will recover well.
This will be different for each person, but the NHS recommends always applying a cold compress (such as a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel) to the injury first to reduce swelling.
However, never place ice directly on your skin because it is too cold.
This compress should be applied every two to four hours and left in place for 20 to 30 minutes.
Medications such as paracetamol can also help control pain.
But nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or aspirin, should not be used, as they can sometimes cause bleeding at the site of the injury.
Those who suffer a concussion should also try to get enough rest and avoid drinking alcohol or drinking. recreational drugs.
In rarer cases, in people with long-term concussion symptoms, post-concussion physical therapy can help relieve headaches, neck pain, and balance problems.