Concussions In Sports

In the United States alone, athletes account for about 300,000 concussions each year (11 Facts). A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that causes swelling of the brain 's soft tissue and disrupts normal brain function (Concussion). A concussion has potential to impact memory and coordination for the rest of the athlete 's life along with lead to other, more serious, brain injuries. In order for athletes to reduce the effects from concussions, they need to be educated on the symptoms, ways to avoid the injury, and the possible lifelong effects.

Recent studies in science have concluded that multiple concussion injuries puts the player not only at immediate risk for problems, but long term health effects including memory loss. Even the most experienced player and coach may not have the proper training or education on recognizing or treating concussions. Concussions in sports remain a large problem. According to CDC research, it is believed that as many as 3.8 million concussions occur in youth through college sports. Unfortunately, less than half of these concussions are properly diagnosed and treated. The reason why so many concussions are left undiagnosed is because of lack of education of officials and coaches, and understanding of the long term effects.

Years ago, coaches referred to concussions as “having your bell rung” and were never considered as a serious injury. Athletes would simply skip a play and would be back in the game in no time. Concussions now have been linked to life-threatening injuries in many athletes. Today, concussions are the most common football injury by young athletes and are becoming more frequent each year. Coaches, players, trainers, physicians and parents need to take better precautions when dealing with concussions and with their help concussions will not be as life threatening as they are today. Today, the NFL and sports teams across the United States are sitting up and paying more attention to the medical profession when it comes to concussions. Concussions are dangerous, cause permanent damage to a person’s physiological state, and can lead to death. Multiple concussions suffered by athletes lead to long-term psychological problems.

Students are not completely knowledgeable about the severity of concussions. Most think that a concussion has to be a loss of consciousness. But rather, it is just a change in consciousness. Some of those changes may include: headache, irritability, confusion, amnesia, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea/vomiting, slurred speech, and fatigue. Spotting a concussion is not always easy, so looking for the signs after an injury is very important. A concussion is classified as a TBI (traumatic brain injury.) It is very important to go seek medical attention in the case of a possible concussion.

“There are between an estimated 1.6 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions in the United States every year”(“Statistics”) Concussions can lead to death or permanent injury. A concussion is a brain injury that causes long term brain damage. Some football players will hide injuries, so that they can continue to play the game. Rules have been changed to protect the players health, for example if a player is suspected of have a concussion they are not permitted to play without getting checked out. Football concussions have a long lasting effect on physical and mental health. Concussions also affect how the game is played and regulated.

Some symptoms that lead to a diagnosed concussion, especially early on include: headaches, loss of consciousness, pressure in the head, dizziness, amnesia, confusion ("What are signs of a Concussion?", 2015). Other early signs of a concussion also include, nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delayed response to questions, slurred speech, appearing dazed and fatigue ("What are signs of a Concussion?", 2015). Symptoms for concussions, seen hours or days after the initial injury can include; irritability and other personality changes, concentration and memory complaints, sensitivity to light and noise, psychological adjustment problems, depression, sleep disturbances, and disorders of taste and smell ("What are signs of a Concussion?", 2015). Athletes displaying these symptoms, make a diagnose for a medical professional easier, which allows for better treatment opportunities ("What are signs of a Concussion?", 2015). For medical professionals being able to recognize these symptoms not only helps to keep an athlete out of further harm, but also helps with that athlete’s treatment and ability to stay clear of any adverse effects for the rest of their life from sustaining a concussion ("What are signs of a Concussion?", 2015).

A concussion is a type of mild to moderate brain injury caused by sudden hit to the head. This sudden blow can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull which damages brain cells and causes chemical changes in the brain. Some symptoms of a concussion include “blurred or double vision, seeing stars, sensitivity to light or noise, headache, dizziness or balance problems, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, fatigue, confusion, difficulty remembering, difficulty concentrating, or loss of consciousness”. It is important to note that you do not need to be knocked unconscious to have a concussion. Concussions cause damage to the frontal and anterior temporal lobes which are the very place where one’s emotions and self-control are located. Some concussion victims claim to experience loss of

The skull of human body holds the most valuable organ, the brain. This is the control center of the body. It is evident that injury to the brain is life threatening in many ways. One specific injury that is becoming more prevalent in the United States is concussions. Particularly concussions are becoming very prevalent in young children, teens, and professional athletes. A study in July of 2016 shared that roughly 1.1 to 1.9 million concussions occur annually in the U.S. to children who are 18 and younger (Bryan, Rowhani-Rahbar, Comstock, & Rivar, 2016, p.1). Concussions can lead to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which can lead to mortality (HEADS UP, 2016). Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared that over 138 people die from TBI on a daily basis in the U.S. (HEADS UP, 2016). Public health is bringing awareness all over the U.S. to advocate prevention of concussions and make athletic events safer. Programs are being implemented to educate parents, coaches, and young athletes in hopes of concussion reduction. Concussions affect over 1.1 million American people yearly; this subject should not be taken lightly.

Many Americans love sports, including football, basketball and hockey. What most people do not think about, is the injury and risks that come along with playing sports. Concussions are a major part of this, and can cause severe brain damage and loss of basic functions. Many sports leagues, however, do not have the right protocol to increase player safety. The National government should implement rules and regulations to improve safety for players.

Making sure the pediatric athlete and their parents understand and adhere to continued care is so vital. The first step after a hit to the head or an injury that causes the head to move back and forth, is to get evaluated and watch out for common signs and symptoms of a concussion. Common signs are: confusion, forgetfulness, disoriented, poor balance, altered speech, vision changes, and changes in behavior, personality, and mood. Continued care and assessment is important, because there can be short and long-term effects of concussions which affect thinking, learning, behavior, and emotions. After a concussion, a victim is supposed to rest and gradually return to the sport after being cleared by a physician. Following up with doctors is very important and waiting for the appropriate time to return to sports is

When someone is diagnosed with a sport related concussion, it not only affect them, but it also affects the people around them. While playing sports that involves high impact to one’s head the athletes should already know that they are putting them self’s at risk of having a sports related concussion. Concussions can happen in almost any sport. The most popular sports that are known for having concussions will have to be American football and lacrosse of both genders. In the past, concussions were rarely heard about in youth sports, however, with today’s knowledge doctors can see the symptoms rather than in the past when people barley knew what a concussion

A concussion is a brain injury caused by the jolting of the head. Concussions usually occur when playing high-risk sports such as football or soccer,

What seems to be the topic about athletes these days is that once you get a concussion or if you have had one it's safer for you to wait longer to jump back into your sport. Researchers have shown that getting a concussion could lead to brain damage. Imagine playing while you have one and getting hit in the head, again, that brain damage could turn into long term health problems. Once you have had a concussion it's proved that it's easier to get another one. Family, doctors, and teammates all think that your health is more important.

Concussions are a major part of sports this day in age. Most players will recover from the hits but others will pay a higher price. Yes, some concussions are just a headache for a week or two but some of them could kill you. These could be caused by freak athletes, but they could be caused by things the player themself can control.

Concussions are a major injury to athletes in today's sports. Many athletes keep playing through injury or they end coming back too early and end making their injury worst. There's a difference from being tough and just being dumb. Although in some cases athletes can come back early I believe that they should stop playing until fully healthy after a concussion.