Here's what happens to your brain when you get a concussion

What happens to your brain when you get a concussion? Concussions are a type of mild traumatic brain injury.

A concussion is usually caused by a hard blow to the head. While the blow causes immediate pain on the outside, what happens within is where the real damage can occur.

Thankfully, your brain does not absorb the brunt of the impact. Instead, it's the protective liquid barrier between your brain and skull.

As a result, the liquid sloshes back and forth, carrying your brain with it. This can bruise the brain tissue at the sites of impact.

But something more sinister is happening deep in the tissue. The brain's motion is stretching and ripping your axons apart.

If this sounds bad, you're right!

Axons are delicate fibers that carry electrical signals throughout your brain. Without these signals, you can't control your body.

When axons break apart, they die and release harmful toxins. These toxins will damage healthy nerves in your brain.

You may experience this nerve damage as one, or more, of the following: headache, dizziness, fatigue, blurry vision, unconsciousness.

Plus, the damage caused by your first concussion actually raises your risk of a second one within the following year.

Each year, over 1 million Americans suffer from a concussion, or similar mild brain trauma. Most people will recover after a few weeks.