Don't Fall for This Common Recovery Myth

Cindy never thought she'd find herself in her own garbage can...

The 74-year-old Seattle resident was doing some gardening one day in June 2023. Like some sort of terrible Rube Goldberg machine, the accident unfolded in a chain of events...

She moved a big, plastic garbage can when the lid suddenly flipped up.

Startled, Cindy tripped, bonked her head, and fell into the garbage can that was full of prunings.

She feared she couldn't move at first. But then, another fear took over: that someone would find her body at the bottom of her garbage can.

After she was cleared to go home by an emergency-room doctor, she began doing what she had done for her two previous knocks to the head.

That protocol included popping in some earplugs and putting on her sunglasses to sleep off the headaches, light- and sound-sensitivity, and dizziness, as well as putting her hiking, golfing, and volunteering activities on hiatus for a few months.

But that recipe for recovery didn't work this time.

Cindy, who was normally a social butterfly, began withdrawing from her hobbies because of her symptoms.

Turns out, she had fallen for a big concussion myth.

Today, I'll be looking at concussions in seniors, busting some common myths surrounding concussions, and sharing my top tip on how to protect that irreplaceable organ in your head.

Concussions Aren't Just Sports Injuries

Concussions account for 75% of America's traumatic brain injuries ("TBIs").

They're considered a mild form of TBI. But there's nothing "mild" about what concussions can do...

When it comes down to the highest risk of dying from TBIs, older folks are the most vulnerable population (even more so than athletes).

An estimated 28% and 32% of TBI-related deaths and hospitalizations, respectively, occur among those aged 75 and up.

And an 18-yearlong JAMA Network Open study involving 9,239 Medicare recipients showed that 13% wound up with a severe concussion at the average age of 75.

The older you are, the more severe the symptoms, and the longer it takes to bounce back from a brain injury.

Reasons include a higher risk of bleeding, or hemorrhaging, in the brain... a higher likelihood of having a medical condition and/or taking a medication (like blood thinners) that can worsen brain bleeds or otherwise interfere with healing... and a decline in neuroplasticity (your brain's ability to adapt or change by reorganizing or rewiring neural connections).

What's more, severe or multiple TBIs up your risk of developing dementia at an early age. One study found that folks who had a past concussion are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia.

Don't Fall for These Concussion Myths

Concussions can be confusing. But we're here to clear up a few misconceptions like these four...

1. After a concussion, restrict all activity in order to recover.

Research has found that "relative rest" is best, while "cocooning" yourself in a dark room and staying in bed can slow healing. That means you're fine doing low-effort activities like light housework, but take things easier than your own normal activity. Just listen to your body and stop the particular activity if it seems to worsen any post-concussive symptoms.

To sum it up, get immediate medical care if you experience or see any "red flag" symptoms below. Otherwise, get checked out by a doctor in the next 48 hours as you take things easier, especially if you're an older adult.

As for Cindy, she flew cross-country to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program. There, a specialist told her that cutting off stimuli and avoiding her normal activities had been hindering her recovery.

2. Concussions only happen if your head takes a direct hit.

Whiplash, where a tremendous amount of force quickly jerks your head and neck forward and backward, can also cause a TBI.

3. Don't let someone with a concussion fall asleep.

Sleep is actually good for your brain's recovery from a concussion, especially getting as much as you need in the first 48 hours. But that doesn't mean you should hibernate...

4. You always lose consciousness from a concussion.

According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, loss of consciousness happens in fewer than 10% of concussions.

Avoid the No. 1 Cause of Concussions in Older Americans

Getting older sure isn't easy sometimes. But with aging, something else does get easier. And that's falling.

It's the top reason for injuries among the elderly, responsible for 90% of TBIs in older people. And on average, an older American falls down every second. Added up, that's 37 million falls, of which 9 million result in injuries and 41,000 are fatal.

As you enter into your mid-60s, each year presents nearly a 30% risk of suffering a fall. And every year, more than 1 in 4 older individuals suffer a fall each year. It adds up to almost 1 million seniors becoming hospitalized for a fall injury, the top two causes being hip fractures and, you guessed it, head injuries.

Compounding the problem... fewer than 50% of seniors seek medical attention after a fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of course, one thing is even better than getting medical care after a fall – avoiding that fall in the first place...

The key is to never stop moving.

Staying physically active primes your body against falls. Exercise keeps your muscles strong and your joints flexible.

Aerobic exercises that get your heart pumping make it easier for your body to deliver the oxygen-rich blood that your muscles need. Adding a bit of weight training builds stronger bones to support your body.

Along with aerobic and strength training, don't forget to incorporate balance workouts into your day, too. Here's a printable guide for simple balance exercises from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (my alma mater).

For more on concussions and my other tips on how to protect yourself from falls, check out last month's Retirement Millionaire. Also be sure to check out this previous issue with my favorite strength exercise for seniors – it requires zero equipment and doesn't cost you anything except just a bit of your time. (If you don't get my flagship newsletter, why not give it a try?)

What We're Reading...

• Follow this flowchart on what to do after a concussion.
• Something different: Before computer-generated special effects, he trained himself to hallucinate.

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
April 8, 2025