With the school season in full gear, with it comes the return of football, soccer, and other activities that increase the risk for concussion.

A concussion is a brain injury, caused by a blow to the head that requires immediate rest.

You can’t see a concussion because there are usually no cuts or bruises. Even a seemingly mild bump can be serious.

Symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, and sometimes altered vision, sensitivity to light or noise, and an inability to concentrate.

At the high school level, 10 to 15 percent of athletes playing contact sports sustain concussions each year, but only a fraction receives proper treatment.

A player who has sustained a concussion is three to six times more likely to sustain another one, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. For this reason, prior concussion should be identified on sports forms as part of a medical history.Returning to play too soon, while the brain is still healing, increases risk for a second concussion.

Multiple concussions can cause permanent brain damage. If you suspect a concussion, get out of the game and get a medical evaluation as soon as possible.

Better to miss a game than a season or to be affected for life.