brain health · May 20, 2025

How Many Concussions Is Too Many? The Dangers and How to Treat Them

By Abby McCoy, RN BSN

When you enjoy an active lifestyle, a concussion may not seem like a big deal. But how many concussions is too many? Concussions, the most common type of brain injury, are reported in about 42 million people around the world each year [1]. The frequency of these injuries can make them feel less dangerous, but concussions change your brain’s activity and structure.

Although most of these injuries and their symptoms heal within a few weeks, multiple concussions can alter your brain permanently and increase the risk of complications and health conditions like dementia [1] [2]. Below, we’ll explain the long-term effects of multiple concussions and what you can do to protect your brain.

Why Repeated Concussions Are More Dangerous Than You Think

To understand the dangers and long-term effects of multiple concussions, let’s first understand how this type of traumatic brain injury works. Think of your head as an egg, with a hard outer shell and soft insides. Now picture shaking that egg, and the yolk (brain) sloshing inside.

If your skull gets hit, your brain can move or twist and cause damage—this is a concussion [2]. When your soft brain hits your hard skull, a cascade of complex events unravels, causing brain inflammation and swelling, damaged neural pathways, and disrupted blood flow [3] [4].

After each concussion, your brain becomes more vulnerable to future injury and each additional collision can cause more damage than the last [5]. In fact, one large study found that with each repeated concussion, people experienced worsening attention span, thinking speed, and memory [6].

Some groups have a higher risk of multiple concussions, like military personnel, firefighters, and athletes [7] [8]. If your work or recreation put you at higher risk, you can prevent repeated concussions with these tips [2]:

Wear helmets or other protective headwear in high-risk situations.
Be sure to wear your seatbelt in any moving vehicle.
Keep walkways clear of clutter that could cause a fall.
Use equipment to reach for out-of-reach items: Don’t stand on tables, chairs, or counters.
Take supplements like Nouro to maximize brain health.

Second impact syndrome

Second impact syndrome, a potentially fatal condition, happens when you get a second concussion before the first has healed completely. Within seconds of the hit, you may get confused and even pass out.

When this happens, the brain can swell so much inside the skull, it puts pressure on the brain stem—where the skull meets the spine—which can cause death in two to five minutes. Death from second impact syndrome is rare, but it highlights the importance of waiting to return to high-risk activity before a concussion has healed [5].

How Do You Know If You Have a Concussion?

After a hit to the head, it’s easy to feel worried you’ll miss signs of a concussion. Typical concussion symptoms involve memory, speech, coordination, balance, and judgment, and include [9]:

Confusion
Headache
“Seeing stars”
Memory loss of the event
Double or blurry vision
Dizziness
Ringing ears
Trouble concentrating
Light sensitivity
Nausea or vomiting
Diminished smell or taste
Difficulty sleeping

Not everyone has symptoms after a concussion, especially if it’s mild. Sometimes known as subconcussive impacts, these injuries can still cause damage, and need time to heal [10]. If you feel concerned about a possible subconcussive impact, you can reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance [11].

What to avoid if you've experienced a concussions

After a concussion, help yourself heal by avoiding further injury and anything that strains your brain. For the first few days, limit these activities [12]:

Studying and schoolwork
Screen time
Reading
Exercise

Try to rest, sleep when you need to, and listen to your body. If you notice the light from your phone screen triggering a headache, for example, take a break. Healing time looks different for everyone, and can range from a few weeks to a month [2]. Your provider will tell you when it’s okay to get back to your regular activities [13].

The Long-Term Effects of Multiple Concussions

When you experience multiple concussions, you may notice some long-term effects in several areas. These compounding brain injuries can increase your risk for:

Cognitive decline: worsening memory, processing speed, and attention span [6]
Emotional changes: increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability [14]
Sleep disturbances: trouble falling and staying asleep, fragmented sleep, excess sleepiness, and insomnia, all of which can slow recovery [15]

Another long-term effect of multiple concussions is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has four stages with distinct symptoms [16] [17]:

Stage I: Mild symptoms like headaches, poor attention and concentration, early signs of short-term memory loss, mood swings, impulsivity, some aggression, depression, and anxiety
Stage II: Worsening stage I symptoms, in addition to dizziness, language issues, and suicidal thoughts in some
Stage III: Advanced cognitive decline and noticeable personality changes, motor issues like tremors and loss of coordination, speech changes, plus worsening symptoms of stage I and II
Stage IV: Severe cognitive decline with worsening symptoms of all previous stages, often requiring full-time care

These symptoms can show up months or even years after the initial injury. About 10 to 15 percent of people have symptoms that last a year or more after a concussion, and sometimes symptoms start out subtle, with noticeable effects arising later [18] [19].

Evidence-Based Strategies to Support Brain Healing

While that may have felt like a bad-news parade, you have plenty of evidence-based strategies to support your brain recovery and overall health.

Anti-inflammatory nutrition

Food powers your body like gasoline powers a car, and, just like at the pump, it matters which fuel you choose. For maximum brain healing, avoid processed foods and extra sugar, which promote inflammation. These food types can also upset the balance of good bacteria in your gut (your microbiome), which can disrupt how your brain cells communicate [37]. Instead, choose nutrients that will decrease inflammation, like omega-3 fats, antioxidants, and polyphenols [20].

You can find these inflammation-fighters in fruits and vegetables, fatty fish like salmon, whole grains, olive oil, and even dark chocolate [20]. And don’t forget to hydrate—drinking 11.5 to 15.5 cups of non-caffeinated drinks throughout the day can also prevent inflammation [21] [22].

Supplementation

Research has shown a promising connection between nutritional brain health supplements and cognitive health, although more studies are needed to understand the link. The right combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more may both maintain and enhance your brain function by [23]:

Helping your brain make more neurotransmitters (chemical messengers)
Preventing brain cell damage
Enhancing memory and attention
Supporting mood regulation
Transporting oxygen through the brain

Developed alongside a team of researchers at Duke Health, Nouro offers a proprietary formulation that includes synergistic ingredients for cognitive health and support for long-term neurological resilience. Our rigorous research validates the Nouro’s safety and long-term benefits, like cognitive function and brain health.

Sleep hygiene

A head injury can lead to sleep disturbances like insomnia or daytime drowsiness, but good rest plays a vital role in concussion recovery [15] [24]. To maximize your sleep and recovery, try these sleep hygiene tips [25]:

Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
Keep your sleep space dark, cool, and comfortable.
Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine too close to bedtime.
Get exercise every day, although not too close to bed.
Give yourself some relaxing, screen-free time to wind down before sleep.

Your body follows a circadian rhythm, or internal clock, to know when it’s time for sleep, and you can support this natural flow through the tips above. If they don’t work, your provider may recommend melatonin supplements to help you regulate your sleep-wake cycle [26].

Stress management and mental health support

You can support brain healing with stress management techniques, which offer mental health support for post-concussion depression, anxiety, and irritability [27] [28]. These include [13]:

Try a support group to get emotional support from others who understand your experiences.
Keep a “cheat sheet” with names, events, tasks, or anything else you find difficult to remember.
Stick to a routine to avoid getting confused or losing things.
Take plenty of breaks to give yourself chances to rest during the day.
Avoid distractions like TV and work on one task at a time to maintain focus.

For persistent symptoms, your provider may recommend medication to help.

Targeted therapies

Targeted approaches also pave the way for concussion recovery, including these therapy options: [29]

Neuromuscular therapy uses motor and cognitive tasks to improve symptoms, balance, and attention [30].
Occupational therapy adjusts living conditions and tasks to compensate for symptoms and maintain independence [31].
Neurocognitive therapy focuses on memory, attention, solving problems, word finding, and organization [32].
Vestibular and vision therapy addresses dizziness, balance, and vision problems stemming from the inner ear [33] [34].
Psychotherapy treats irritability, depression, and anxiety by talking with a psychologist [35].
Sensorimotor therapy improves peripheral vision, hearing, planning ability, and memory by integrating the five senses [36].

Physical activity

While you need to rest after a concussion, it’s also important not to lie down all day. Exercise is vital for neurogenesis (your brain’s natural ability to generate new neurons), but experts recommend only gentle walking for the first two days, with a gradual increase in activity after this time period [24].

If any activity makes your symptoms worse, stop right away. Your provider can help you develop an individualized plan for your exercise ramp-up.

Takeaways

Multiple concussions can take their toll on your brain, but you have plenty of options for optimal recovery:

After a concussion, avoid anything that makes your symptoms worse: strenuous activity, screen use, reading, and studying.
Follow an anti-inflammatory diet, including fruits, vegetables, omega-3s, antioxidants, and polyphenols.
Try adding to your diet with a nutritional supplement like Nouro to fill in the nutrient gaps your meals and snacks miss.
Get great sleep by following good hygiene tips like keeping a regular sleep schedule, and making your sleep space irresistible.
Manage stress through support groups, following a routine, and writing down easy-to-forget items.
Use targeted solutions like sensorimotor therapy to boost brain performance and independence.

References:

Abby McCoy is an experienced RN who has worked with adults and pediatric patients encompassing trauma, orthopedics, home care, transplant, and case management. She has practiced nursing all over the world from San Francisco, CA to Tharaka, Kenya, and now writes health content for trusted health outlets like Everyday Health and Next Avenue. Abby is a married mother of four living in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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